Pike County, IL — A rural Pike County man was scammed out of $40,000 in cash after receiving a fraudulent message related to his Apple Pay account, authorities say.
According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred Monday when a Barry resident over the age of 70 reported that he had been contacted by a scammer claiming his Social Security number had been compromised. The caller allegedly posed as a federal law enforcement officer and told the victim he needed to pay $40,000 in cash to resolve the issue. Fearing legal trouble, the victim complied and handed over the money to a man who arrived at his home just hours later.
Deputy Steve Lowry quickly opened an investigation, tracking continued phone communication between the victim and the scammer. Authorities said the suspect allegedly demanded an additional $40,000 the same day.
On Wednesday at approximately 1:50 p.m., deputies arrested 27-year-old Akhmet Kuzgov of Los Angeles, California, at the victim’s residence. Kuzgov was charged with Theft Over $10,000 and booked into the Pike County Jail. Federal charges are pending after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a warrant for his arrest.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office said similar scam attempts have been reported in nearby areas, including one in Pittsfield, where a potential victim avoided being defrauded after a bank flagged suspicious activity.
“This is a newer scam hitting small communities like ours,” Chief Deputy Zack Orr said. “Always be alert. A legitimate law enforcement agency will contact you in person — not through texts or spam calls.”
Anyone with information or who believes they may have been targeted is urged to call the Pike County Sheriff’s Department at (217) 285-5011.
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