Mokena, IL – The Mokena Police Department (MPD) has issued a warning about a surge in fraudulent activities targeting seniors in the area.
According to MPD, several residents have reported significant financial losses due to scams involving phone calls, emails, and computer takeovers. The scammers, posing as representatives from companies like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and various law enforcement agencies, IRS, or banking institutions, use tactics such as urgent matter alerts, computer infection warnings, and threats of arrest. They often request payment through gift cards, bitcoin, cashier’s checks, or direct provision of bank details.
The MPD emphasizes that such scammers may use sophisticated software to clone phone numbers and might possess dark web-acquired personal information to appear legitimate.
MPD clarifies that law enforcement will never solicit donations over the phone or falsely claim to represent the department or other organizations.
Residents are advised to verify the authenticity of such calls by directly contacting MPD at 708-479-3912 or visiting the police station. For after-hour inquiries, the contact number is 708-479-3911.
