Des Plaines woman scammed out of $48,000, police say

A 67-year-old Des Plaines woman was deceived into sending $48,000 to a stranger she befriended over the internet, police said Monday.

The scam began in July 2024 and continued through this month.

The scammer claimed to be an Iowa woman who sold refurbished medical equipment, Des Plaines police Cmdr. Matt Bowler said. The scammer asked for money to support the business, Bowler said.

The scammer persuaded the victim to send the money via wire transfer or money order. In all, six payments were sent.

Communication was through the WhatsApp app, police said.

Des Plaines police have warned residents not to send money to strangers when contacted by phone or the internet.

The FBI received nearly 900,000 complaints about internet crimes in 2023, with losses exceeding $12.5 billion, according to the most recent data available.

Illinois ranked eighth among U.S. states with 15,783 complaints, according to an FBI report. It ranked seventh for total financial losses with $335.8 million.