08/19/2026
Great work!
Unfortunately this is not usually the end result. Law enforcement will never ask you to send them money or gift cards; and neither will any legitimate business.
Be skeptical of any phone call or email you get!
$11,500 RECOVERED AFTER SCAM INTERCEPTED
A Stephenson County resident is getting his money back after the quick work of a Sheriff’s Office investigator stopped a scam before it was too late.
On August 12, 2026, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a resident who had been contacted by telephone by a man claiming to be a federal agent. The caller convinced the resident that his identity had been compromised and told him that, in order to protect his bank accounts, he needed to send a specified amount of cash to an address in California.
Believing the caller was legitimate, the resident followed the instructions, placed $11,500 in cash into a package, and shipped it.
Fortunately, after telling a family member what had happened, the resident was advised that he had likely been the victim of a scam and should immediately contact law enforcement.
Investigator Keegan Coppernoll immediately began working the case. Because the incident was reported quickly—and through Investigator Coppernoll’s diligent efforts—she was able to have the package intercepted before it reached its destination in California.
The package was returned to Freeport and turned over to the Sheriff’s Office. When it was opened, all $11,500 was still inside. The money was recovered and returned to the victim.
This case had a happy ending, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Once money is sent to a scammer, particularly through cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other difficult-to-reverse methods, recovering it can be extremely difficult or impossible.
🚨 Protect yourself from scams:
• Be suspicious of unexpected calls claiming to be from law enforcement or another government agency—especially when the caller demands money.
• Law enforcement agencies will not call you and instruct you to mail cash, purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency, or transfer money to “protect” your accounts.
• Scammers often create a sense of urgency and tell victims they must act immediately. Slow down. That pressure is designed to keep you from thinking or talking to someone you trust.
• Never rely solely on the phone number or information provided by the caller. Hang up and independently locate the official telephone number for the agency, bank, or company the caller claims to represent.
• Never give an unsolicited caller passwords, PINs, verification codes, Social Security numbers, or banking information.
• Talk to a trusted family member or friend before sending money to someone you do not personally know.
If something doesn’t seem right, stop before sending the money and contact law enforcement.
In this case, the victim reported the scam quickly enough for us to act—and Investigator Coppernoll’s work helped turn what could have been a $11,500 loss into a $11,500 recovery.
Great work, Investigator Coppernoll! 👏
