Search for Missing Southern California Man Intensifies
Federal authorities are now involved in the search for a 74-year-old man from Southern California whose case has taken a suspicious turn, especially after more than $1 million went missing from his bank account.
The FBI is collaborating with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation of Naiping Hou, who was reported missing by his family on May 4, 2025.
According to his son, Wen Hou, he last saw his father during a fishing trip in March of the previous year.
“He seemed to be in a really good mood,” Wen recounted. “He caught a lot of fish, and his friends were there. He had a great time.”
Shortly after the fishing trip, the family’s concern grew when they received an unusual text from Naiping’s phone, which Wen suspects was sent by someone impersonating his father.
Wen noted, “[He kept] giving strange reasons like he was tired or promised to call back later. His messages were brief, and he didn’t share any photos for weeks.”
The situation escalated when friends checked Naiping’s home and found it empty. It had been cleaned and repainted, and his car was no longer there.
Authorities later discovered what they termed “large-scale fraudulent transactions” associated with Naiping’s bank accounts around the time he went missing.
“His money is gone, too,” Wen stated. “We traced some transactions and found that over $1 million was withdrawn to buy physical gold online.”
Investigators believe there is a possibility that someone used a cellphone to impersonate Naiping while misappropriating his funds.
The family suspects that he may have been kidnapped due to the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, the odd financial activities, and his attempts to sell property.
While law enforcement has yet to confirm a motive, the case is ongoing. In recent weeks, the FBI has stepped up their involvement, continuing the search for any leads.
Naiping is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, with black hair and eyes, along with a birthmark on his upper left chest.
The family is offering a reward of $250,000 to anyone who has information about his whereabouts and is urging anyone who knows something to step forward as the investigation continues.
