A Buffalo Grove woman is facing federal charges after she allegedly swindled at least half a dozen victims out of $3.5 million by falsely claiming the money would be used in Ukraine and for immigration services.
Tatiana Bazer, 40, of Buffalo Grove, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago on fraud charges for allegedly swindling a minimum of six victims out of at least $3.5 million.
Federal prosecutors said Bazer falsely claimed their money would be used to support immigration services, projects in Ukraine and other supposed needs.
She also claimed some of the money was for loans to herself to help resolve her purported arrest for shoplifting, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Some of the victims entrusted Bazer with hundreds of thousands of dollars, the indictment said.
Bazer spent much of the victims’ money in a manner other than what she had represented, including for her own personal use, the indictment said.
Bazer concealed the fraud by sending the victims false records, including bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks, the indictment said.
The woman later learned that federal law enforcement was investigating her fraud scheme.
Bazer then impersonated her to be an FBI agent, a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney to trick victims into believing that her case would be resolved and that the victims would receive their money back, the indictment said.
The case was investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Securities Department.
Bazer is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each count of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to three years.
Bazer pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment hearing. A status hearing is scheduled for April 21.
Anyone who may be a victim or knows someone who may be a victim of fraud committed by Bazer is asked to report it to the FBI by sending an email to [email protected].