Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

INDIANAPOLIS—The FBI wants the public to be aware of an unemployment text scam targeting personal information. If you receive a text claiming to be from the Department of Workforce Development regarding unemployment benefits, do not click on the link. Clicking the link may allow scammers access to your personal data.

“The Department of Workforce Development will never send a text message to verify eligibility for unemployment benefits or to report issues with receiving benefits. Unsolicited text messages and emails containing links can be an attempt to obtain personally identifiable information,” said FBI Indianapolis Financial Complex Crimes Supervisory Special Agent Spencer Brooks. “Unless the message is from a known and verified source, you should never click on links in text messages or emails.”

More than $120,000 in legitimate unemployment benefits have been hijacked from Hoosiers through text and email scams.

“This is yet another example of the explosion of fraud related to COVID and we know hundreds of Hoosiers have been affected so far by this particular scam,” Brooks said. “We continue to work numerous cases with our federal and state partners to try to stem the flow of unemployment benefits into the hands of bad actors instead of those it rightfully belongs to.”

If you believe you may have already received and clicked on this type of text message, and possibly entered information into a fraudulent website, resources on how to protect your information can be found at: www.identitytheft.gov.

To learn more about identifying and protecting yourself from phishing attempts, go to: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams or https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/spoofing-and-phishing.

To report fraud, visit ic3.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FORT WAYNE—On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents assigned to Mexico arrived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with 59-year-old Hector Castaneda, who was indicted in the Northern District of Indiana in May of 2012. Castaneda, who is a Mexican national, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, one count of distributing cocaine, and two counts of attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Castaneda was located and arrested by Mexican law enforcement authorities in July of 2017 in Tijuana, Mexico, in coordination with FBI Legat Mexico City and the FBI’s Fort Wayne Resident Agency. Since that time, Castaneda has been detained in Mexico pending extradition proceedings.

“The extradition of Mr. Castaneda from Mexico clearly demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to targeting violent individuals responsible for bringing drugs into the United States and holding them accountable, no matter where they are or how long it takes,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, investigate, and eliminate criminal organizations that harm our communities.”

This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force which includes members from the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Allen County Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. The case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana, in Fort Wayne.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

CHICAGO—The Chicago Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning Illinois residents about the dangers involved in the illegal sale of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards and other COVID-19 scams.

Vaccination cards are intended to provide recipients of the coronavirus vaccine with important information regarding the type of vaccine they received and their dates of inoculation. The creation, purchase, or sale of vaccine cards by individuals is illegal and endangers public safety. The unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal on such cards is a crime that may be punishable under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1017, and other federal laws. Penalties may include hefty fines and prison time.

FBI-Chicago is also warning the public that posting photographs of legitimate vaccination cards online may leave individuals vulnerable to identity theft. Illinois residents are encouraged to protect themselves from COVID-19 scammers in the following ways:

• Do not post pictures of your vaccination cards online. These cards may contain your name, date of birth, insurance information, or more and may be used to steal your identity or commit fraud.
• If you have already posted a picture of your vaccination card to social media, remove it immediately.
• Rely on trusted sources like your doctor, the Center for Disease Control, or your local health department for information related to the coronavirus and vaccinations. Be skeptical of unsolicited offers of miracle cures or vaccination documents.

Anyone with information regarding the fraudulent creation or sale of COVID-19 vaccination cards can file a report by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to tips.fbi.gov.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

CHICAGO—Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Jr., of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that the division will host a large-scale recruitment event on June 2, 2021. The 2021 Diversity Agent Recruitment (DAR) event is only the third of its kind in the Chicago area and—despite being hosted online in accordance with established safety measures—will feature extensive opportunities for participants to interact with FBI special agents and professional staff.

The DAR is an invitation-only information session designed to familiarize special agent applicants with the unique opportunities available at the FBI. Applicants will speak with a recruiter, participate in small-group sessions with seasoned agents, watch a physical fitness test demonstration, and learn tips to streamline the application process. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to engage in live Q&A sessions with many specialty teams they may know from their favorite television shows such as the Evidence Response Team, the SWAT team, intelligence teams, and more.

The FBI is looking to recruit approximately one thousand new special agents over the next year, and diversity remains a priority in all FBI recruitment efforts. FBI-Chicago invites members of ethnic and gender groups specifically underrepresented in policing to apply, though this event is open to applicants of all backgrounds. Attendees will have the chance to engage with male and female agents of color, seek answers to questions they might otherwise not have a chance to ask, and determine if joining the FBI family is the right choice for them.

Applicants for the Special Agent position must be between the ages of 23 and 36 years old, have 1 to 2 years of full-time work experience, and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. No law enforcement or military experience is required, and applicants of all majors may apply. Applicants with backgrounds in foreign languages, STEM, accounting, and law are especially encouraged to attend the DAR.

To request an invitation to this event, interested parties can apply online to the Chicago DAR Talent Network at FBIJobs.gov. Attendance will be limited to guarantee personalized attention, so applicants should apply at their earliest convenience to secure an invitation.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

MIAMI—FBI Miami is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of mother and daughter Liliana and Daniella Moreno who went missing five years ago on May 30th, 2016.

At the time of their disappearance, Liliana was 41 years old and Daniella was eight years old. They have not been seen or heard from since. (see photo below)

Liliana and Daniella were last seen in or near the Home Depot store at 13895 West Okeechobee Road in Hialeah on May 30th, 2016.

Following their disappearance, a search of Liliana’s home in Doral, Florida, revealed indications that she planned to return such as the presence of a number of personal belongings and unfinished meal preparations.

Law enforcement has not ruled out foul play.

In addition to South Florida, the Moreno’s have ties to Colombia.

The FBI is supporting the Miami Dade Police Department and the Doral Police Department with its full range of capabilities.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Liliana and Daniella, no matter how insignificant, is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/liliana-and-daniella-moreno.