Blog

A 78-year-old woman from Aurora lost $12,000 in cash after receiving a phone call from a scammer impersonating a fraud prevention officer from JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The scam occurred on December 4, when the caller falsely claimed that someone was attempting to withdraw $9,000 from her savings account. The victim was pressured to act immediately and was warned that delaying would prevent authorities from stopping the transaction.

Lieutenant Bill Vayidich of the police department stated that the caller instructed the woman to remain on the phone while driving to a JPMorgan Chase branch in Solon. “The caller told her that she needed to withdraw $12,000 in cash and meet with a ‘federal agent’ who would help secure the funds,” Lieutenant Vayidich explained.

Following the instructions, the victim withdrew the money and parked her vehicle at a Dunkin’ parking lot on SOM Center Road in Solon. Shortly afterward, a black SUV arrived, and a man exited the vehicle and approached her car, claiming to be an FBI agent.

According to investigators, it remains unclear whether the suspect displayed identification, but authorities believe any documents presented were likely fraudulent.

During the handover, the scammer remained on the phone with the victim and falsely claimed that he needed to help her create a digital wallet to protect her funds. Before she realised she had been deceived, the money had already been taken.

Police are currently reviewing surveillance footage and investigating the incident. Lieutenant Vayidich noted that these types of scams are often connected to larger criminal networks rather than isolated individuals. “Even smaller groups are usually responsible for multiple cases. We hope to identify leads and bring those responsible to justice,” he said.

Authorities remind the public that legitimate FBI agents will never approach individuals in parking lots, request cash payments, or ask for personal banking information. Families are encouraged to discuss scam awareness with elderly relatives, especially regarding fraud attempts involving threats, urgency, or impersonation.

Solon Police also advise anyone receiving similar calls to immediately end the conversation and independently verify the information through official channels.