LICKING COUNTY, OH — A local resident was scammed out of $27,000 in a sophisticated fraud scheme involving a fake alert about a compromised Apple ID, prompting an investigation by the Licking County Sheriff’s Office that led to a suspect’s arrest just days later.
The scam began on May 9, 2025, when the victim received communication falsely claiming their Apple ID had been breached. The scammer convinced the resident that their financial assets were at risk and needed to be “secured.” The suspect then arrived in person at the victim’s home to collect $27,000 in cash, under the pretense of protecting it.
Just three days later, on May 12, the suspect attempted to collect an additional $20,000 from the same victim. This time, detectives were waiting.
When the suspect arrived to retrieve the money, officers from the Licking County Sheriff’s Office took him into custody.
Liwei Zhang, 42, of China, was arrested on-site and is now being held at the Licking County Justice Center, facing felony theft charges.
The Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited communications involving tech accounts or financial information—especially if cash transactions or personal visits are requested.
