KENOSHA, Wis. – More than 50 people gathered at Ruffolo’s II on Monday evening as three Kenosha Police Department officers delivered a sobering, and at times startling, presentation about the explosion of fraud and scam activity targeting local residents.

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The presentation, led by Detective Chad Buchanan, Crime Prevention Officer John Wenberg, and fraud division newcomer Detective Tommar Franklin, offered real-life examples of scams that have devastated Kenosha residents—ranging from romance cons and fake tech support alerts to cryptocurrency fraud and “grandparent” scams.

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Wenberg opened the discussion by explaining how the initiative began after repeated calls from concerned citizens. “Every time I went to a neighborhood watch meeting, people brought up scams,” he said. “So I reached out to Chad, and we asked ourselves what more we could do.”

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Buchanan, a 27-year department veteran and one of only two detectives assigned to handle the city’s fraud caseload, detailed how international scam operations—many based out of Myanmar—deploy scripts, high-pressure tactics, and spoofed phone numbers to manipulate victims into handing over money and personal information. “They’re professionals,” he warned. “They will keep you on the phone for hours, transferring you between people, until they have everything they need to ruin you.”

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Franklin, a longtime detective newly assigned to fraud, shared a recent case involving a Kenosha woman who was tricked into withdrawing $39,000 from her bank and depositing it into a cryptocurrency ATM. The scammer remained on the phone with her through multiple bank visits, even coaching her on what to say to tellers. Ultimately, she lost over $31,000, though police were able to recover a portion of the money in transaction fees.

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“We managed to get about $7,500 back for her,” Franklin said. “That was a small victory, but we’re still working the case.”

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The officers warned of the most common scams affecting Kenosha residents:

• Tech support scams that use fake alerts and remote access to take over computers.
• Investment fraud, including fake trading sites and bogus “celebrity-endorsed” schemes.
• Romance scams that manipulate lonely individuals into sending money to fictitious admirers.
• Grandparent scams where fraudsters pose as jailed or injured relatives in urgent need of cash.
• Facebook Marketplace cons and overpayment scams, often involving counterfeit checks.
• Home repair scams, where criminals posing as contractors use jobs as cover for theft or intimidation.
• Spoofed phone and text scams, sometimes mimicking local banks or government agencies.

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The detectives shared national and local statistics to underscore the scale of the issue. FBI data showed Americans over 60 lost more than $3.5 billion to scams last year, though experts believe actual losses are far higher due to underreporting. “Maybe 10 percent of victims even call the police,” Buchanan said.

Much of the advice focused on prevention. Attendees were encouraged to freeze their credit, be skeptical of unexpected messages or phone calls, and avoid giving out sensitive information—even to someone claiming to be from a trusted institution. “Call your bank or go in person,” Buchanan said. “Don’t trust a phone number that pops up in a text.”

Monday’s event was part of a growing outreach campaign by the department, which has held nearly 50 similar sessions across the city. Two additional public presentations are scheduled at the Moose Lodge, 3003 30th Ave., on Wednesday, June 25, at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Residents interested in scheduling a presentation for a community group or organization can contact Detective Buchanan at the Kenosha Police Department.

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