WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A California man accused of a massive fraud scheme in Whatcom County is facing new charges after investigators say they’ve found more victims.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater says detectives arrested 56-year-old Xiaobin Zhou on Wednesday, April 15.
My Bellingham Now previously reported that Zhou was first arrested in May 2025 after he was connected to a scheme that stole $100,000 from a county resident.
Investigators believe him to be part of a nation-wide fraud scheme that has stolen millions of dollars from seniors. He pled not guilty to all charges in June 2025.
Zhou was released from jail after meeting bail, but Slater says the continued investigation uncovered three more victims in the state.
They’re believed to have lost over a million dollars combined, including one 86-year-old victim who lost nearly $800,000.
Detectives say the scheme involved victims clicking a link that gave access to their computers and being asked to withdraw cash that was picked up by a courier.
Zhou is now back at the Whatcom County Jail on $500,000 bail ahead of his trial, which is scheduled to begin on July 27.
The Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public to avoid clicking any suspicious links.
