Vernon Hills, IL – A man has been arrested in connection with an elaborate scam that cost a Vernon Hills senior citizen $27,000, police announced.
The victim reported the scam on August 8, revealing she had handed over large sums of cash to individuals pretending to be federal agents. The scam began in July when the victim received a fake email about an unauthorized bank withdrawal. A pop-up on her computer urged her to call a number, leading her to a man who claimed her Social Security number had been used to purchase firearms out of state.
The scammer convinced the woman to withdraw $20,000 in cash to aid the “investigation,” assuring her the funds would be returned. He also instructed her to lie to bank staff about the withdrawal’s purpose. The money was handed over to a man who met her in her driveway, confirmed his identity with a code word, and claimed it would go to the Social Security Administration.
The next day, she was told to send another $7,000 in cash to a California address via delivery service. Shortly after, all contact with the scammers ceased.
Thanks to a detailed description of the man and images of his vehicle and license plate, investigators identified Dmytro Kariev, 54, of Wheeling, as the suspect. He was arrested on September 2 and charged with Class 2 felony theft.
“Scams of this type are all too common and far too costly,” said Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick L. Kreis. “We urge the public to be skeptical when dealing with unknown individuals.”
Kariev was released pending his court appearance on September 16. The investigation is ongoing, and police believe other victims may exist. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Vernon Hills Police.
