Lake County, IL – Vernon Hills Police say a man has been arrested after an elderly woman was allegedly scammed out of $27,000 in a complex internet fraud scheme. The case unfolded over several weeks and involved scammers posing as federal agents.
According to Vernon Hills Police, the victim reported on August 8, 2025, that she had been deceived into withdrawing large amounts of cash after receiving a fraudulent email about unauthorized withdrawals from her bank account. The scammers allegedly claimed her Social Security number had been used for illegal gun purchases and instructed her to provide cash to “resolve” the issue.
Investigators said the victim first handed over $20,000 in her driveway to a man who gave her a supposed verification code. The next day, she was told to send another $7,000 to an address in California via a delivery service. After the money was collected, the scammers cut off all communication.
Through surveillance and follow-up, police identified the suspect as Dmytro Kariev, 54, of Wheeling. Kariev was arrested on September 2, 2025, and charged with Class 2 felony theft. He has been released pending a September 16 court appearance at the Lake County Courthouse.
“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.” Police believe other victims may exist and encourage anyone with information to contact investigators.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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