Des Plaines man lost $500 in gift card scam, police say

A Des Plaines resident lost $500 in a gift card scam Tuesday, police said.

The 74-year-old man said he received a phone call from someone claiming to be from his bank. The caller said something was wrong with the man’s bank account and directed him to buy a $500 Apple gift card at a Walgreens store, police said in a news release.

The man purchased the card and then provided its serial number. He later realized he’d been scammed and called police.