More Victims of Alleged Scam Found

The counts of grand theft and financial elder abuse are expected to more than double in the case of a La Habra plumber suspected of bilking clients of thousands of dollars, a detective with the Brea Police Department said Wednesday.

Alleged loan and business scams involving Mark Cameron Ryder, 45, who was first charged with 48 felony crimes against 11 victims, are still being reported since his arrest last week, Det. Dean Fleig said. The number of possible victims from as far away as Torrance grew to 24 Wednesday afternoon, he said.

Ryder, who worked for Brea Plumbing more than a year ago, was apparently “real smooth . . . becoming almost a family figure” to victims, Fleig said. “Eventually he would start borrowing money” without repaying it.

Anyone with more information in the Ryder case can call Fleig’s office at (714) 671-3669.