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Investigators are considering foul play in the case of a missing grandfather from California, whose family discovered around $1 million missing from his financial accounts.
Nai Ping Hou disappeared from his residence in Rancho Cucamonga on March 16, 2025, under what authorities describe as “suspicious” circumstances, as outlined by the FBI.
The FBI has indicated that there are indications of “possible foul play,” given that Nai Ping’s bank accounts were significantly emptied before his disappearance was reported to authorities.
Wen Hou, Nai Ping’s son, shared with KTLA that his last encounter with his father was during a fishing excursion to San Pedro in March 2025.
“He was in excellent spirits,” Wen mentioned to KTLA. “He caught plenty of fish. His friends were there as well. He was very content.”
“He was in a very good mood,” Wen told KTLA. “He caught a lot of fish. His friends were there, too. He was very happy.”
But a few weeks later, Wen—a well-known hedge fund and cryptocurrency investor—said he noticed his father’s text messages seemed out of character, with Nai Ping often remarking that he was tired or pushing off phone calls.
“He had very short responses,” Wen added, “and didn’t share photos anymore over the course of those couple of weeks.”
His concern grew after Nai Ping refused to visit his son or his grandchildren at their Las Vegas home and didn’t answer calls on his May 3 birthday, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Investigators Find Fraudulent Banking Transactions, Missing Furniture in Nai Ping Hou Search
Wen suspected that someone else could be controlling his father’s phone and asked some family friends to go check on Nai Ping. When they arrived at the 74-year-old’s house, they found that someone had removed all the furniture and painted the interior, according to the news outlet. Plus, Nai Ping’s cars were missing from the garage, but there was no sign of him.
Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department also found evidence of suspicious banking activity.
“Detectives have determined extensive fraudulent transactions were conducted using Mr. Hou’s bank accounts around the time of his disappearance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Furthermore, investigators believe Mr. Hou’s cellular phone was used by an unknown individual(s) who impersonated him to communicate with family members.”
As the months passed without any sign of his father, Wen created a website to aid in the search effort.
“They drained about $1 million from my dad’s bank account,” he shared in a video message. “That was all his retirement savings. We’re very devastated, and we’re deeply concerned for his safety.”
According to the website, there had also been “unauthorized sales of his vehicles, gifting of items and the attempted renting of his home.”
Wen added to KTLA that some of the money taken from the bank account was used to purchase gold online.
At the time of the disappearance, Nai Ping’s wife had been out of the country visiting family in China. She allegedly received a message from Nai Ping’s phone telling her to cancel her flight home and insisting he would come to Asia, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Wen suspects that Nai Ping may have been kidnapped by people who wanted to steal his father’s money and assets.
“The suspects are believed to be using sophisticated and deceptive tactics,” the family’s website noted, “and are considered highly dangerous.”
Nai Ping Hou’s Family Offers Reward For Information
The family is offering a $250,000 reward for any information that leads to Nai Ping’s safe return or to the arrest of those responsible for the disappearance.
“We’re asking for anyone who may have seen something or know something, even the smallest details, to come forward,” Wen said in the video message. “The family is heartbroken and we just want him back.”
Nai Ping is 5-foot-7, weighing 170 pounds, with grey hair that could possibly be dyed black. He has a birthmark on his upper left shoulder and a surgery scar on his lower back.
The FBI is asking that anyone with information on the case, reach out to their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.