Retired Rev. Peter Hata and his wife are in danger of losing their home after turning over their assets to fake federal agents.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER
For more than a year, Peter and Diane Hata have been dealing with a devastating crime that threatens to rob them of their home of nearly 40 years. Now, they are coming forward in the hopes of helping others to avoid becoming victims.
In February of last year, Peter Hata, known to generations in the Japanese American community as a retired minister from Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo, was contacted via phone by someone posing as a representative of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations.
On his phone, the caller ID read “U.S. Postal Service,” so Hata figured it was official and important. The people told him they were FBI agents conducting an investigation of a New York banker who had stolen the Hatas’ personal information and were creating credit cards and accounts in their name.
It was, of course, a complete scam, and the perpetrators were clearly skilled in their ruse. Hata told local news reports that the phone calls escalated to video calls, complete with “agents” dressed in FBI jackets.
“These actors were extremely slick, extremely convincing,” he told KTLA.
Furthermore, the Hatas were warned that they too were being implicated, and that cooperating with the “investigation” was the only way to clear their name. They were warned that they would face three to seven years of imprisonment if they failed to keep information about the case confidential.
In the coming months, the FBI imposter scam had taken their life savings and their retirement funds. The scammers also coerced them to take out a home equity loan, which was turned over to the thieves. The Hatas were convinced to convert their funds – nearly $850,000 – into untraceable cryptocurrency before releasing to the scammer.
Months went by with no further word, leading then to contact the FBI office in New York, only to be told the agents – and the purported “investigation” – did not exist. They had been taken, and their life savings were gone.
To compound the loss of assets – and dignity – the Hatas are in danger of losing their home in Covina. They have been advised that because of the equity in their home, they don’t qualify for bankruptcy. The couple is struggling to pay the interest on their loans and the stress of the year-long ordeal has left Diane, a retired teacher, diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Hatas recover from this financial and emotional upheaval. As of Monday afternoon, more than $130,000 of a $550,000 goal had been pledged.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-elder-couple-recover-from-fbi-imposter-scam
“My wife and I have been really moved by people’s generosity,” Peter told The Rafu on Monday. “Looking at the list of donors, which now number over 450, there are names of people we know very well, names of people from the distant past, and names of people we don’t know at all, but for whom something in our story resonated with them.
“Through this fundraiser, there is a feeling of turning the corner and beginning on a healing path supported by many, many people,” he added.
Fraudsters routinely exploit seniors’ unfamiliarity with how Internet technology works, as well as their generational tendency to trust official-looking correspondence and people they can speak to over the phone.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Report for 2025 cited adults over age 60 suffered the most losses to scammers, totaling more than $7.7 billion. That figure represents a nearly 60% increase from 2024.
On its website, AARP has a list of recommendations to help seniors recognize and avoid scams. These include not responding to unsolicited emails or texts on your phone, making sure people who contact you on social media are known to you, and never, ever following instructions to pay for anything using digital currency or gift cards.
AARP also operates a Fraud Watch Network Helpline at (877) 908-3360. It is a free resource that offers guidance and support to steer clear of scams.
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/protecting-yourself-from-criminals/