Sheriff's Office Reports Financial Scams Are on the Rise in Kendall County

In the past week, deputies have been called to investigate two cases in which victims were duped into sending money to scam artists in the U.S. and overseas.

According to Deputy Craig French, in one scam, a so-called investor sends an e-mail directing a victim to deposit money orders or checks into his or her personal account, then wire-transfer money to another “investor.” The victim, thinking he will be able to keep a percentage of the money he received from the investor, soon finds the original check or money order was counterfeit.

In another bogus scheme, a caller tells a potential victim that he has won a lottery or contest and simply needs to mail or wire-transfer money to pay the taxes to claim the prize. Once the money is sent, the victim never hears from the scam artist again. According to French, the money usually is funneled into the scam artist's offshore account.

“Regarding business deals, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is," French wrote in a news release. "I will advise against sending money to anyone you don’t know, until all checks or money orders have been fully funded."

If in doubt, French advised, contact your local police agency. For more information, contact the sheriff's office at 630-553-7500.