⏱ 2 min read
Tatiana Bazer, a 40-year-old woman from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is accused of running a massive fraud scheme that swindled multiple victims out of at least $3.5 million. The alleged scam, which took place in the Chicago area, involved Bazer falsely claiming that the money would be used for various purposes, including immigration services, projects in Ukraine, and resolving her own purported arrest for shoplifting.
According to the indictment, Bazer spent much of the victims’ money on her own personal expenses, while sending them fake records, such as bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks, to conceal the fraud. The scheme took a new turn when Bazer learned that federal law enforcement was investigating her, and she began impersonating FBI agents, a prosecutor, and a criminal defense attorney to convince her victims that the case would be resolved and they would receive their money back.
Bazer has been charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. She pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment in federal court in Chicago and is scheduled for a status hearing on April 21, 2026.
The investigation was led by the FBI, with assistance from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Securities Department. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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