Auburn, CA – Rushabh Rajesh Desai, 35, of San Jose, was intercepted by Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) deputies on June 20, 2025, and arrested for conspiracy to commit crime – 182(A)(1)PC; attempting to obtain money by false pretense – 532(A)PC; and elder theft – 368(D)PC for his part in attempting to scam an elderly woman out of $30,000.

On June 20 at 3:40 p.m., the Nevada County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a phone scam in progress. The caller indicated she believed her 75-year-old friend was on the phone with a scammer and shared her friend had pulled $30,000 out of her bank account to give to the suspect. It was also reported another party was in route to her residence for collection. A description of the suspect vehicle was provided and an NCSO deputy quickly located it parked southbound on the shoulder of Highway 49 in Auburn, near the victim’s residence. Additional deputies responded as backup. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Desai. 

Through the course of the investigation, there was probable cause to place Desai under arrest for his part in attempting to defraud the victim out of $30,000.

This is not the first major scam prevented by NCSO. In Sept. 2024, NCSO deputies intercepted another scam in progress at a private residence in Grass Valley, preventing another elderly woman from losing $32,000.

“Scams are very common, and unfortunately, many of them go unreported as victims feel embarrassed or shame once they realize they were tricked,” said NCSO Captain Rusty Greene. “We recommend anyone who feels they are being targeted to please not encourage the possible scammer and to get in contact with us immediately or minimally involve a trusted friend or family member for support, which is what happened here.”

While scams cannot always be prevented, NCSO would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of scam prevention tips:

  • Scammers often require one to take immediate action. Any call surrounding urgency and immediate action should be viewed suspiciously.
  • When receiving a call, text, or email that doesn’t feel right, resist the urge to act immediately. Stop and talk to someone trusted, such as a friend, family member, bank, or law enforcement.
  • Reputable companies will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards, prepaid credit cards, or send a money courier.
  • When in doubt, do not engage with the suspected scammer. Hang up and block their number when possible.
  • Passwords play an important role in keeping online accounts and personal information safe. Use unique passwords for each of your online accounts.
  • Social Security Numbers (SSN) should never be stored in a wallet. Only provide an SSN when necessary, such as on tax forms or employment records. If a government agency asks for it, expect to see a required “disclosure” form that should provide information on whether the SSN is required or optional, how it will be used, and the agency’s legal authority to ask for it.
  • Use Free Annual Credit Reports. One of the best ways to protect against identity theft is to monitor one’s credit history. Free annual credit reports can be obtained by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-322-8228, or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.