A Chicago man is in jail, with bail set at $30,000 as of Monday, charged with taking part in a scheme to defraud a 71-year-old Verona woman out of $30,000, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The scheme began with a phony technical support pop-up on the woman’s computer but evolved until scammers had convinced her that they were bank and government officials. They reportedly convinced her to withdraw money from her bank to protect herself from implication in a plot to buy illegal military weapons from Russia.
Verona police received an anonymous tip on Thursday that a man would be picking up $30,000 from the woman’s home; they were subsequently able to watch and arrest him. He provided a driver’s license with no driving privileges, and the package of money he had picked up from the woman’s house was in the car.
Jiale Yang, 23, was charged Monday with conspiracy to commit theft by false representation involving an elderly person, which carries up to 14 years of combined prison and extended supervision. He is believed to be part of an organized effort.
The woman told police that she had already given the scammers $20,000 in cash before they asked for $30,000.
