YouTube Scambaiters Help Dismantle $65M Fraud Ring Targeting US Senior

On 27 August 2025, San Diego, a major multinational fraud network worth $65 million, was brought down after a joint effort by U.S. law enforcement agencies, and with unexpected help from YouTube scambaiters.

Twenty-five people were arrested this week in a scam ring case across California, New York, Texas, and Michigan in connection with the scheme, which targeted thousands of US seniors. The investigation revealed deep ties between Chinese organized crime groups operating in the United States and India-based scam call centers.

Source: Scammer Payback X

How the Fraud Ring Targeted US Seniors?

According to federal indictments, the criminal network had been operating since at least 2019. Fraudsters would cold-call or email unsuspecting victims, pretending to be bank representatives, government officials, or tech support staff.

The most common trick was the “refund scam.” Victims were told they had received an accidental refund and pressured to return the money. To comply, many were persuaded to send cash, wire transfers, or gift cards.

Packages of cash were often mailed overnight to short-term rental addresses across the U.S. Conspirators collected them under fake names and quickly shifted locations to stay ahead of law enforcement. One victim, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor from San Diego, lost her life savings in the scheme.

The Role of YouTube Scambaiters in a Fraud Ring Scam Case

What made this case unusual was the role played by YouTubers. Pierogi, known online as “Scammer Payback,” and fellow creators from Trilogy Media carried out sting operations between 2020 and 2021.

The scambaiters posed as victims, captured scammer interactions on virtual machines, and even confronted suspects in person. Their videos, posted on YouTube, provided key evidence that helped investigators identify high-level members of the network.

One confrontation was pivotal. During a sting, Pierogi was instructed to send cash to “Hans Bum” at a California address. Trilogy Media delivered a decoy package and confronted the man picking it up—later identified as Zhiyi Zhang, also known as “Cream Pablo.” Zhang admitted on camera that he was collecting packages for money. Law enforcement later confirmed his identity through records and unblurred footage.

Zhang alone is linked to at least $1.8 million in fraud losses. He was arrested on August 19, 2025, at Los Angeles International Airport.

Federal Operation and Seizures in Fraud Ring case Targeting Seniors

The takedown was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and IRS-Criminal Investigations. Over a dozen search warrants resulted in the seizure of $4.2 million from bank accounts, along with several luxury vehicles, including a 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63, a 2024 Porsche Panamera, and a 2025 GMC Yukon Denali.

All defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money. If convicted, they face up to 40 years in prison and millions in fines.

Statements from Officials in a Fraud Ring Case

“Not all heroes wear capes. Some have YouTube channels,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, acknowledging the unusual but valuable role citizen scambaiters played in exposing the network.

HSI Special Agent Shawn Gibson described the investigation as one that “dismantled a predatory criminal organization that manipulated victims and cost them their life savings.”

IRS-CI Special Agent Tyler Hatcher added that the arrests highlight the agency’s commitment to “taking the profit out of crime” while protecting the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

What’s Next

A motion hearing in the Scam Ring case 25CR1097-TWR is scheduled for August 29, 2025. Other related hearings will follow in September. As law enforcement cracks down on crypto latest scams , this US seniors Scam Ring case stands out as proof that public vigilance and citizen-led investigations can play a crucial role in the fight against cyber-enabled fraud. Moreover, there is another type of fraud surging in the digital world, like old wallet approval leads to the loss of $900K .