Tulare Police Arrest Suspect in Bail Scam Targeting Elderly Victim
TULARE, CA — On January 15, 2025, a 79-year-old woman reported to the Tulare Police Department that she had fallen victim to a scam. According to the victim, she received a phone call from an individual posing as a bail bondsman who claimed that her grandson had been arrested. The caller requested $9,600 to secure the grandson’s release and arranged for a courier to collect the money from her residence. The victim later contacted family members, who confirmed that her grandson had not been arrested, prompting her to report the incident to authorities.
On January 16, 2025, the suspect contacted the victim again, this time requesting an additional $22,000. After negotiations, the suspect agreed to accept $5,000. The Tulare Police Department’s Crime Specific Unit initiated surveillance at the victim’s residence in preparation for the scheduled exchange. A short time later, a male suspect arrived to retrieve the money. Officers followed the individual out of the city and conducted a traffic stop near Tipton. It was determined that the driver was an Uber employee with no knowledge of the fraudulent scheme and cooperated with the investigation.
The Uber driver’s destination was a restaurant in Castaic, California, where the suspect was set to pick up the money. Upon arrival, the suspect attempted to flee but was taken into custody without incident. The individual, later identified as 24-year-old Manuel Rivera Cueto of Los Angeles, was transported to the Tulare Police Department for questioning and booking. A search of his vehicle uncovered evidence linked to the initial $9,600 transaction.
During the interview, Cueto admitted his involvement in the scam but claimed the primary organizers were based in the Dominican Republic. He also stated that he had participated in similar fraudulent schemes approximately ten times. Authorities discovered that Cueto had an outstanding warrant in Las Vegas, Nevada, for 14 counts of theft by false pretenses.
The Tulare Police Department reminds residents to be cautious of phone scams and to verify information directly with family members before transferring funds to unknown individuals. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
