Deputy and Store owner Stops $11,000 Scam, Recovers Cash for Local Senior

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Dec 9

Miraculous recovery - Klickitat County Deputy and Car Parts store work to recover $11,000 taken from a senior citizen.

GOLDENDALE, Wash., Dec. 9, 2025 — Quick coordination between the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office, UPS and staff at S and S Auto Value helped recover $11,000 that an 84-year-old resident had allegedly been coerced into sending to scammers in California.

Deputy Tim Neher received the report on Dec. 2 after the individual realized they had been targeted by a computer virus scam and contacted law enforcement. Scammers reportedly convinced the person to mail cash through UPS to a vacant rental home often used in similar schemes.

Neher followed the shipping trail to S and S Auto Value in Goldendale, the originating UPS shipper. Employee Andy Halm was preparing to close the store around 5:45 p.m. when Neher walked in. “I told him, ‘Open as long as you need me,’” Halm said, noting that store manager Corey Stiff also stayed to assist.

Halm said they immediately began trying to reverse the shipment. “Tim came in and asked about UPS. We looked at the UPS webpage and tried to change the address, and it didn’t work,” Halm said. “We gave the code to UPS and called them and waited 15 to 20 minutes, then got transferred for another half hour, and were able to get the package sent back.”

Halm, who previously worked in banking, said scam recoveries almost never happen. “It’s crazy — people just lose their money. This never happens,” he said. “Pretty awesome deal we got it turned around.”

He noted that the outcome hinged on timing. “The package was sent ground. If it had been overnighted, we would not have been able to stop it,” he said.

The package arrived back in Goldendale on Dec. 3 and the full $11,000 was recovered and returned to the victim. Deputies also contacted the individual’s family to ensure there was no further contact with the scammers.

Halm said the experience was meaningful for everyone involved. “It made me feel good,” he said. “Good to know that Tim did a good job and we were able to help on our side. Makes us all feel good.”

The sheriff’s office urged residents to speak with friends and relatives about financial safety, particularly those who may be vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scams.