The Pittsburg Police Department reported that in October of 2018, they became aware of a scam involving Teresita Del Rosario, a 74-year-old Brentwood resident and a business owner in the City of Pittsburg.
The case was immediately assigned to the Investigations Division where it was thoroughly investigated over the course of the last several months. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned Del Rosario was the owner of Best Haven Realty and Mortgage located at 3128 Harbor Street and offered a wide range of services, including tax preparation and notary services.
Del Rosario used her authority and trust placed in her by her customers to prey on unsuspecting victims. Del Rosario presented false pretenses to victims using a scam known as the “Advance Fee Scheme” or “Nigerian Scam” to obtain large amounts of money from them, with no intention of paying them back.
Investigators learned of a victim, a client whom she provided tax services for, that reported Del Rosario stated that she had come into a large amount of money ($2.8 million) which was tied up in an offshore account in the Philippines. Del Rosario related she needed a loan from the victim to pay for taxes and other fees, or the money wouldn’t be released to her.
Del Rosario showed the victim online records and other documentation to support her claims and requested a $12,000.00 loan from the victim, ensuring him she would give him $24,000.00 by the end of the week in return payment. To reassure the victim, Del Rosario completed a notarized Promissory Note which she provided to him and displayed fraudulent documentation supporting her claims.
Through the investigation, other victims have been identified. The same scheme was used on an elderly couple who trusted Del Rosario with their tax preparation for 17 years. The elderly victims had been defrauded by Del Rosario in excess of $75,000.00 over the course of several months under the same false pretenses.
Detectives have served numerous search warrants to banks and followed other leads. Ultimately, it was discovered Del Rosario was endorsing the Cashier’s Checks provided to her by the victims and endorsing them into a third party’s name to avoid detection and wiring funds to an offshore bank account.
The case was brought to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and reviewed by Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague. The Office of the District Attorney ultimately filed charges against Del Rosario for multiple charges including Grand Theft, Theft by False Pretenses, and Elder Abuse.
On 4/17/19, the Pittsburg Police Department Investigations Division served a search warrant at Best Haven Realty and Mortgage and took Del Rosario into custody for the above-mentioned charges.
This investigation is still ongoing. It is believed that there are further victims that have been defrauded by Del Rosario and is asking for help identifying as of yet unknown victims.
If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud purported by Del Rosario or an associate of hers, contact Detective Jonathan Elmore at 925-252-4875.
25 comments
She should have used some of that money to have her nose done!
She’s already had a nose job. This is the new nose!
She should do the GEICO caveman commercials, but as the female counterpart. She could make a lot of money from that and return what she’s stolen from so many people.
Oh Tammy, shame on you. You should NOT pick on others appearance, it’s called being a bully. Be better Tammy.
Hilarious….should not pick
Hey Rex! Are you my Dad? You’re not! Since when do you tell me what I can or cannot do? Honestly! Some people!
That nose could scare a buzzard off a sh*twagon!
all of you relax!! its big for a reason.. like an aardvark they use the huge nose to smell out ants . she used hers to smell out money..
That is soooooo funny! I think you’ve solved the mystery.
Aardvark’s nose? ROFLMAO! More like a pig’s nose, the kind of pigs who can detect those expensive mushrooms buried underground. The ones which go for $200/lb.
Martin! i think you’re referring to those delicious chanterelle and truffle mushrooms which are much in demand, but difficult to find. Truffle oil is delicious on some good pasta.
I think you’re referring to “truffles” which can be added to a variety of foods and also made into truffle oil and poured on EVERYTHING!
Actually, if you look at that photo, it appears to be two different faces meshed together. From the the area above the nose, it’s a different face … the nose and what’s below it seem to come from somewhere else. You can see that if you block the nose and lower face with your two fingers and you will see what I’m referring to.
OK…now that’s weird.
WTF? I think what you’re referring to is the difference in facial structure on both sides of her face.
No! It’s not both sides of her face. It’s the upper and lower areas. It’s like a composite photo.
I see the difference in cheeks like Nick said. As far as upper and lower areas – maybe she has a high forehead. Does it really matter?
There is no difference in the cheeks, Melanie. The only difference is that one cheek (her right one) has more shine and color than the left one. If you place a ruler dividing her face, the cheeks are symmetrical. The nose is something else entirely. If you remove the nose, she look better … OR you can reform the nose into an acceptable one.
Is she being held in Martinez or out on bail?
She tried to scam my parents out of 10K USD once. Now I know why! Funny that she said she was religious! I’m done with Pittsburg.
A similar situation occurred with my grandparents, but this was a different woman who tried to scam them. She thought she could get away with it, but I intervened. Seems that a lot of elderly people just believe some of these scammers. We have to be their guardians!
We do have to be their guardians. I’ll leave the elderly out of the conversation out of respect for our elders – but for younger people. If you really think someone can “double your money” you’re not only ignorant, you’re as greedy as the scam artist.
“GREED IS GOOD!”.. Gordon Gekko, “Wall Street” 1986. Wanting to double your money is hardly a sign of greed. It’s good money management but it has to be done legally.
You’re obviously clueless when it comes to investing. if anyone EVER tells you they can double your money, run don’t walk. They’ll full of crap, and it’s not going to happen.
Law enforcement will tell you that people get scammed because they’re as greedy as the scammers. They want “quick money.” It’s not reality.
I’ve doubled and even tripled my money by investing in a great enterprise. Beats having to get up and work 8-5.
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