Western Springs Scam Starts At Best Buy: Cops

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A Western Springs woman who lost $100,000 to $200,000 in a scam told officers it all started with a Best Buy employee, police said.

Patch obtained the police report through a public records request.

Two years ago, the 70-year-old victim, who lives in the 100 block of 51st Place, bought a laptop from Best Buy in Countryside, according to the report.

An unidentified employee then gave the woman the name and number of a person whom the employee claimed was a cybersecurity professional who could help set up the computer, police said.

Through phone calls and emails, the person convinced the woman to send multiple checks through certified mail to obtain various security services and programs, the report said.

She sent the checks every other month, starting in September 2022 and ending in November 2024, police said. She mailed three checks at a time, with each check made out for between $2,000 and $4,000, police said.

The checks were sent to addresses in North Hollywood and Tarzana, California.

The woman and family members have made her bank, Chase Bank, aware of the scam.

Police said they would send officers to patrol near her house, given that she gave her address to the scammer.

The woman reported the scam to police last month.