Wheeling Man Scammed $27K From Elderly Victim: Vernon Hills PD

VERNON HILLS, IL — A Wheeling man has been charged with a felony after police said he scammed an elderly victim out of $27,000 by pretending to be agents with the federal government. Dmytro Kariev, 54, was arrested earlier this month and is due back in court Tuesday.

According to Vernon Hills police, the victim told police in August that she had been deceived into delivering the money over two separate occasions. Police said the "complex" scam began in late July when the victim received a fraudulent email indicating there had been an unauthorized withdrawal from her bank account.

The victim was then prompted by a pop-up message on her computer to call an unknown number, where she spoke with a man claiming her Social Security number had been used to purchase guns out of state. The man said $20,000 in cash was required to further an investigation by the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Treasury. Police said the scammer also provided the victim's personal details such as her bank account balances and promised the funds would be returned at a later date. In addition, the victim was provided with a cover story to use in the event her withdrawal was questioned by staff at her bank.

Police said the victim next handed over the $20,000 to Kariev, who met her in the driveway of her home. Kariev provided the victim with a code word to verify his identity and assured the victim that her money would be delivered to the Social Security Administration.

The next day, police said the victim contacted the scammers a second time and was instructed to send an additional $7,000 cash via delivery service to an address in California. Soon after the delivery of the money, all phone numbers the victim had been communicating through had been deactivated.

Police said the victim was able to provide investigators with a detailed description of the man who had picked up the $20,000 as well as photos of his vehicle, including the license plate. Through a follow-up investigation and surveillance efforts, the man was identified as Kariev.

"Scams of this type are all too common and far too costly," Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick L. Kreis said. "We urge the public to be skeptical when interacting with unknown parties and ask anyone who believes they have been targeted to report the incident to their local law enforcement."

Kariev was released following his arrest pending his court appearance.

Vernon Hills officers were assisted in the investigation by members of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force Burglary Task Force. Police said the investigation is ongoing and believe others may have fallen victim to the scam. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vernon Hills Police Department at 847-362-4449.