A Mundelein police officer has been recognized for acting quickly and stopping a 76-year-old resident from being scammed out of $196,000 by a person posing as their bank.
Officer Anastasios Koumantos was recognized by his department in February for preventing the resident from experiencing the “life-changing loss.”
“For years, the police department has recognized our employees who go above and beyond as a part of our quarterly recognition program,” Mundelein Deputy Police Chief Tom Poyner said.
In November 2025, Koumantos responded to a report of a 76-year-old resident who had just been scammed the day prior.
The scammer was posing as the victim’s bank’s fraud department, Poyner said.
“Contacted by phone, the victim was told of a fraudulent $1,960 charge against her bank account and that the funds were used for illicit purposes,” Poyner said.
“As in many cases, the scammers used high-pressure tactics, threatening arrest by local law enforcement unless access to banking information was granted to repay the $1,960,” Poyner added.
The suspect or suspects gained remote access to the victim’s computer and requested a $196,000 online money order sent overnight through UPS to an address in Texas.
Poyner said that packages are oftentimes intercepted by the suspects and may involve additional victims.
Officer Koumantos recognized the urgency of the situation and immediately took action.
“After being unable to stop the delivery by phone, Officer Koumantos immediately responded to the UPS Store to stop delivery before accompanying the victim to her bank to provide further assistance,” Poyner said.
Coordinating with UPS and the bank, Officer Koumantos helped successfully stop the check, secure fraud protections and recover the money for the victim.
“Because of his quick, focused work, the victim’s money was returned, preventing a life-changing loss,” the police department said on Facebook.
Poyner added, “Although we will not see charges here at a local level due to the complexity of these cases involving networks operating outside of the country, the timely reporting and the quick actions taken by the officer prevented any money being lost.”
Although police were able to save the victim from losing a large amount of money in this case, Poyner said that it oftentimes does not end that way.
Poyner provided several tips to help people avoid falling victim to a scam.
People should always verify the source, as scammers exploit trust.
“When you receive an unexpected call, text, or email, especially one that asks for personal identification or money, be suspicious of who is really contacting you,” Poyner said.
People should not click on any website links and if they suspect a scam, they should stop communication and contact the agency or organization directly using a trusted phone number.
“There is no urgency,” Poyner said. “Scammers will use threats and create urgency to pressure people into taking immediate action and providing information.”
Poyner added that people should not share personal information as legitimate organizations will not ask for personal information like banking information, passwords or social security information over a phone call.
If someone does fall victim to a scam, they should not feel ashamed or embarassed and should instead report it immediately to the police.
“By staying informed, being cautious, and partnering with the police department, we can work together to help protect our community,” Poyner said.