ALLEN COUNTY, Ohio (WLIO) — One person is in custody following a joint FBI and Allen County Sheriff’s Office sting operation targeting an online scam that defrauded a local resident.
Xianchun Li was arrested on July 29, 2025, in connection to the ongoing investigation. He is currently being held in the Allen County Jail and is charged with attempted theft of a protected person. Authorities say additional charges may follow.
The sting operation was launched after reports surfaced of a scam in which a local resident was defrauded of U.S. currency through online deception. Investigators coordinated with federal agents to apprehend Li during the course of the investigation.
Officials are reminding the public—especially older adults and their families—to stay alert when using the internet. Scammers frequently target seniors, and victims may suffer severe emotional and financial harm.
Key online safety tips include:
Don’t send money, gift cards, or personal information to people you haven’t met in person.
Ignore unsolicited prize notifications—if you didn’t enter, you didn’t win.
Consult trusted financial advisors before investing in digital assets like cryptocurrency.
Authorities emphasize that prevention is the best defense, as recovering lost funds is rare in these cases.
