Outstanding coordination and investigative work by members of the Corpus Christi Police Department led to the arrest of a suspect connected to an ongoing scam targeting a local resident.

On September 29, 2026, a Corpus Christi citizen was being actively victimized by a scam in which the suspect convinced the victim they were facing legal trouble and needed to make a payment to avoid arrest or other legal consequences. Believing the threats to be legitimate, the victim was preparing to deliver money to the scammer.

On September 30, 2026, a concerned family member learned about the situation and contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department. Detectives with the Financial Crimes Unit, the Organized Crime Unit, and Directed Patrol Officers immediately began working together to investigate the case and protect the victim from further financial loss.

Through coordinated investigative efforts, officers developed a plan that led the suspects to believe they would be collecting the victim’s payment. When the scammer arrived to retrieve the money, officers safely took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, Yen Hung Chen, a 36-year-old Chinese national, was arrested and found to be in possession of fraudulent identifying documents at the time of his arrest. The case is being followed up on by Homeland Security Investigations due to the immigration and possible international connections to this case.

This case highlights the outstanding work being done by our Financial Crimes Unit and partner units to identify and stop criminals who prey on members of our community. It also serves as an important reminder that these scams can be highly convincing and can happen to anyone.

Protect Yourself from Scams

In light of October being Financial Exploitation Awareness month, The Corpus Christi Police Department encourages the public to be aware of common scam tactics and remember the following:

· Law enforcement agencies and government organizations will never call and threaten to arrest you if you do not make an immediate payment.

· Law enforcement, government agencies, and legitimate businesses will not demand payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or other unusual payment methods.

· Scammers often pressure victims to keep transactions secret and may send official-looking documents, including fake non-disclosure agreements or “gag orders.”

· Criminals may coach victims on what to say to family members, friends, or bank employees to prevent anyone from questioning the transaction.

· Never provide personal, financial, or banking information to an unsolicited caller.

· If someone claims to represent a government agency, business, or law enforcement organization, hang up and independently verify the call by looking up the agency’s official phone number and calling it directly.

· If something feels suspicious or too urgent, pause and speak with a trusted family member, friend, financial institution, or law enforcement agency before sending money.

The Corpus Christi Police Department encourages anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam to report it immediately. Quick reporting can help investigators intervene, prevent additional victims, and bring those responsible to justice.