Des Plaines man scammed out of $500, police say

An 81-year-old Des Plaines man was scammed out of approximately $500 by someone who called him Oct. 7 and posed as a bank employee.

The female caller claimed to work for the bank’s fraud department. She said charges to the man’s account totaling $2,400 had been linked to fraudulent activity, according to a news release. The scammer said the man needed to send her the full amount to reverse the charges.

The victim tried to do so, but his bank blocked the transaction, police said. He was able to send $500, though.

The man realized he’d been scammed after the swindler hung up.