PIKE COUNTY, Ill. (WGEM) — A Los Angeles man was arrested Thursday after allegedly scamming $40,000 in cash from an elderly resident in Barry, Illinois, in what authorities describe as a dangerous new form of financial fraud.
Pike County Sheriff David E. Greenwood said the victim initially received a message about a supposed Apple Pay payment issue, followed by a call warning that their Social Security Number had been compromised. The scammer then claimed a federal law enforcement officer was on the way to the victim’s home to collect $40,000 in cash as part of the “investigation.”
Tragically, within hours, a man arrived at the rural residence and collected the money.
The victim then contacted the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Steve Lowry launched an investigation and began monitoring ongoing conversations between the scammer and the victim. The scammer later demanded an additional $40,000.
On Thursday at 1:50 p.m., officers arrested Akhmet Kuzgov, 27, of Los Angeles, at the victim’s residence. He was charged with Theft Over $10,000 and booked into Pike County Jail.
Later that evening, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a federal warrant for Kuzgov’s arrest. The FBI has also been notified and is now involved in the investigation, which remains ongoing. More charges may follow.
In a related incident, a resident in Pittsfield received a similar scam call, but a family member was alerted by the bank before any funds were lost.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to intimidate and defraud citizens,” said Chief Deputy Zack Orr. “If you’re ever told to pay law enforcement directly — that’s a red flag.”
Sheriff Greenwood warned that this scam, involving in-person cash collection, represents a new and more aggressive tactic, often targeting small, rural communities. He believes it may be part of a broader international crime ring, and expects more such attempts to surface.
