⏱ 2 min read
A 73-year-old Joliet man was scammed out of nearly $200,000 by a Chinese national, Wei Jia Luo, 42, who ran an internet scheme posing as a Microsoft representative and a bank courier. The scam started in March 2024 when the victim received a pop-up window on his computer, allegedly from Microsoft. Over the course of several meetings, the victim handed over $182,000 to Luo, who claimed the money was needed to bring the victim into compliance with the Federal Trade Commission.
The scam unfolded in a series of meetings at the Edgar Bar, where the victim was instructed to meet a bank courier named “Ethan”. The victim handed over $76,000, then $53,000, and eventually liquidated a $50,000 investment, all in an attempt to comply with the fake FTC demands. The scammers also instructed the victim to buy $5,000 in gift cards from Apple and Lowes.
The investigation began on May 8, 2024, when the victim reported the scam to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Luo pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in March 2026 and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, with restitution of $181,000 and deportation to China to follow.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, with Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith announcing the outcome. The case highlights the ongoing threat of internet scams targeting vulnerable individuals, with the DOJ and other agencies working to prosecute those responsible.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Montana
- Location: MT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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