Feds enter hunt for missing California grandpa linked to crypto fortune

The FBI has joined the hunt for a missing Southern California gramps arsenic authorities escalate what is present being treated arsenic a kidnapping probe tied to a troubling web of fraud, impersonation and imaginable targeting linked to cryptocurrency wealth.

Nai Ping Hou, 74, vanished successful March 2025 from his Rancho Cucamonga location and was reported missing weeks aboriginal connected May 4.

Federal officials accidental imaginable foul play is suspected, noting Hou’s slope accounts were depleted earlier instrumentality enforcement was adjacent notified of his disappearance.

Investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initially described the lawsuit arsenic a suspicious disappearance but present accidental grounds points to a imaginable abduction.

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Hou’s lad Wen Hou said the past clip helium saw his begetter was during a sportfishing travel successful March, conscionable days earlier helium disappeared.

"He was successful a precise bully mood," Wen Hou told KTLA. "He caught a batch of fish. His friends were there, too. He was precise happy."

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The household of Naiping Hou is offering a $250,000 reward arsenic constabulary analyse his suspicious disappearance involving individuality theft and impersonation. (findnaipinghou.com)

But weeks later, subtle changes raised alarm.

"[Always saying] he’s bushed oregon he’ll telephone maine later, conscionable reasons that were strange," helium said. "He had precise abbreviated responses and didn’t stock photos anymore."

Wen Hou said the infinitesimal it genuinely acceptable successful came erstwhile his begetter stopped answering calls altogether and sent an unusually acold connection connected his birthday.

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"It’s surreal to deliberation idiosyncratic could beryllium impersonating my dada done text," helium antecedently told KABC.

The household said that’s erstwhile they realized thing was earnestly incorrect and grew profoundly acrophobic for his safety.

When friends went to cheque connected Hou’s location successful aboriginal May, they recovered it had been wholly cleared out.

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The household of Naiping Hou, a missing antheral from Rancho Cucamonga, fears his disappearance is linked to their cryptocurrency occurrence aft much than $1 cardinal was drained from his accounts. (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office)

"Something truly bizarre is going on," Wen Hou said. "The spot was wholly cleared out. No people, nary vehicles, not adjacent garbage near behind."

Investigators aboriginal confirmed "extensive fraudulent activity" successful Hou’s slope accounts astir the clip of his disappearance. More than $1 cardinal was drained done unauthorized transactions, including purchases of golden and cryptocurrency.

"His wealth was besides gone," Wen Hou said. "Funds were being transferred retired to acquisition golden online. He’s not tech-savvy astatine all, truthful I don’t cognize however helium could’ve done immoderate of that himself."

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Authorities accidental Hou’s vehicles were besides sold and determination was an evident effort to rent retired his home.

Hou’s woman was retired of the state visiting household successful China astatine the clip helium vanished and received antithetic messages from his phone, including 1 suggesting she hold returning home.

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While investigators person not confirmed a motive, the household has told KABC they fearfulness Hou whitethorn person been targeted due to the fact that of their fiscal occurrence successful cryptocurrency. Wen Hou is simply a hedge money enforcement who has invested heavy successful the space.

"I miss him dearly," Wen Hou said. "He’s ever been a guiding beingness successful my life."

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"We’re truly worried, and we truly privation my dada back," helium added.

Hou is described arsenic 5 feet 7 inches gangly and astir 170 pounds, with acheronian hairsbreadth and a birthmark connected his precocious near shoulder. He besides has a country scar connected his little back. He has not been seen oregon heard from since March 2025.

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Investigators are seeking accusation astir a metallic Toyota Yaris successful transportation with Naiping Hou’s disappearance successful San Bernardino County. (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office)

Investigators are besides seeking accusation astir a metallic Toyota Yaris believed to beryllium connected to the case.

The Hou household has launched a dedicated website to rise awareness, stock photos and cod tips. The tract includes a video connection successful which Wen Hou makes an affectional plea for his father’s harmless return.

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A reward of up to $250,000 is being offered for accusation starring to Hou’s harmless instrumentality oregon the apprehension of those responsible.

Authorities impulse anyone with accusation to interaction the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department oregon the FBI.