Mokena Police Chief Warns Of Scams Bilking Seniors Of Thousands

MOKENA, IL — Mokena police are urging residents to be aware of scams targeting senior citizens and attempting to bilk them of thousands.

Several reported cases in recent months have heightened police awareness of the scams, which have cost some victims thousands of dollars, said Police Chief Brian Benton.

In one of several incidents occurring Feb. 2–7, an 81-year-old victim told police she had called a number provided in a purported security pop-up window on her laptop. The person requested her credit card information, and the victim complied. The person then persuaded her to buy Target gift cards and make other Chase credit card purchases as part of the attempt to "help" her, Benton said. Eventually, the person convinced the victim to obtain a $75,000 cashier’s check from her account made out to a person named "Chuan Wang." Bank staff intervened when they learned the woman did not know the person to whom the check was made out. The victim was scammed out of $7,000, but nearly $75,000, Benton said.

In a Feb. 7 incident, Benton said, a caller identified themselves an Amazon representative questioning the victim about a $1,400 purchase. When the victim denied make the purchase, the caller reportedly transferred her to a "Chase" representative, who told her that she was suspected of money laundering and had a warrant out for her arrest. That person then told her he was transferring her to a "Federal Trade Commission Agent," who convinced the woman that she had a warrant and that her money in the bank was at risk but that he would help her "protect" her money, Benton told Patch.

The elderly victim was persuaded to withdraw money from her bank with the intention of depositing over $14,000 into an area bitcoin machine. Fortunately, Benton said, a stranger near the bitcoin machine reportedly saw what was happening, convinced her that she was being scammed and stopped her before she deposited all the money.

In another incident, an 82-year-old man responded to a different pop-up message prompting him to call a number. The person alleged to be Window Security, telling the man he would be charged $10,000 for porn. The scammer told the victim to withdraw the money from his bank and get gift cards so that money wasn’t available for the porn payment. Victim purchased $4,500 in gift cards and gave the scammer the numbers off the cards. Victim has been unable to contact the scammer and the numbers have been disconnected.

Benton warns people to be aware of scammers preying on citizens, especially the older population.