Buffalo Grove woman indicted in $3.5 million fraud scheme

A Buffalo Grove woman faces charges of wire fraud and impersonating a federal law enforcement officer stemming from allegations she swindled multiple victims out of at least $3.5 million, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Tatiana Bazer, 40, falsely told victims their money would be used to support immigration services, projects in Ukraine and as loans to help resolve her purported arrest for shoplifting, according to an indictment returned March 18 in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Instead, prosecutors allege, Bazer spent much of the money for personal expenses. She concealed the fraud by sending victims false records, including bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks, the indictment states.

After learning that federal law enforcement was investigating her, Bazer pretended to be FBI agents, a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney to lull victims into believing that her case would be resolved and that they would receive their money back, according to the indictment.

Bazer first appeared in federal court March 19, when she pleaded not guilty to seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer, records show.

She was back in court Thursday, when a U.S. District Court magistrate judge granted her pretrial release pending her next court appearance, scheduled for April 21.

Prosecutors said each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each count of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Anyone who believes they or someone they know may be a victim of fraud allegedly committed by Bazer is encouraged to report it to the FBI by sending an email to TBazerVictims@fbi.gov.