Police Warn of Possible Extortion Plot

Police say two local Asian men received telephone calls from a man threatening them with violence if they did not give him $30,000.

The men received the phone calls on March 19 and April 1 from an “Asian sounding male,” according to Police Spokesperson Janet Pope Givens, who said the calls were still under investigation by police.

The calls may be part of a bigger extortion plot spreading across the San Gabriel Valley. According to the Los Angeles Times, half a dozen Asians with professional backgrounds in Alhambra , San Marino and San Gabriel received similar calls at their homes and place of business from a man who appeared to be speaking Mandarin, claiming to know where the victim lives and threatened violence against their family or business if they were not paid $30,000. The caller appeared to be using disposable cellular phones and telephone cards.

Police say that so far no one they have spoken with has lost any money, but urged professionals to limit the amount of personal information they release, to use home security systems and to be aware of their surroundings and to call police if they receive any such phone calls.

Similar threats have been made against Asian professionals in Northern California . Police say far no one has given in to the threats, or been injured as a result of the threats. Authorities are urging professionals to be contact them if they receive the phone calls.