From the Huntley Police:
Huntley Police Stop $25,000 Scam Attempt – Arrest Made
Huntley, IL – On August 20, 2025, a Huntley resident received a fraudulent email claiming a $499 subscription renewal had been charged to his PayPal account. When he called the number listed, the scammer convinced him to allow remote access to his computer and claimed to have “accidentally” refunded $25,000.
The scammer then pressured the resident to withdraw the money in cash or send it through cryptocurrency.
Recognizing the red flags, the resident ended the call and came directly to the Huntley Police Department.
They discovered the “refund” was simply a transfer between the resident’s own accounts.
Patrol Officers worked with the resident that evening to ensure his safety while continuing to engage the scammer.
The next morning, detectives coached the resident to arrange a meeting for the cash handoff. Xu Li arrived at the home to collect the money and was taken into custody.
He is charged with two Class 3 felonies:
- Attempted Theft by Deception (over $10,000 not exceeding $100,000) and
- Attempted Theft by Deception (over $5,000 and victim over 60 years old).
The case remains under investigation and no further details will be released at this time.
We commend the resident for trusting his instincts and contacting the police.
Scammers rely on fear, urgency, and embarrassment to trick victims, and they often target the same person again once they succeed.
By reporting suspicious activity early, residents can protect themselves and help police protect others.
We urge everyone to share this information with family, friends, and neighbors – especially seniors, who are often targeted.
Awareness is our strongest defense against scams.
How These Scams Work
- Initial contact: Unsolicited email, text, or call about a fake charge or account issue.
- Building urgency: Scammer pressures you to act immediately.
- Remote access: Victim is tricked into giving access to their computer or device.
- Fake refund: Scammer manipulates online banking to make it look like they “accidentally” sent too much money.
- Repayment demand: Victim is told to return the difference, usually through cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.
- Isolation: Scammers will do anything to keep their potential victim from talking to someone else and breaking the scam, often through threats and fear-mongering.
- Unconventional means of identification: Instead of verifying authenticity through a badge, company ID, or official website, scammers will use code words or tokens to create a false sense of legitimacy.
Red Flags to Watch For - Pressure to act quickly or threats of liability.
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- Refusing to end the call and not allowing the person to talk to anyone else until the money has been transferred.
- Requests for remote access to your computer or smartphone.
- Claims of overpayment and demands to “return” money.
- Instructions to use cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, or cash couriers.
What To Do - Do not engage with unsolicited phone calls or messages.
- Stop and think before taking action.
- Verify independently: Contact the company using a verified phone number.
- Check with someone you trust: A second opinion often exposes the scam.
- Call law enforcement immediately: Acting quickly can prevent loss and may help police catch the suspects.
