FBI warns of email scam after north suburban couple loses 'thousands of dollars'

The FBI is warning the public to be aware of a scam in which money is sought in the name of the law enforcement agency.

An elderly couple in Chicago's north suburbs was recently scammed out of "thousands of dollars" after receiving an email that appeared to be from the FBI office in Rolling Meadows, the FBI said in a news release Tuesday.

The email, which included a copy of the FBI logo, informed the couple that the agency "detected" that they "are involved in money laundering and financing terrorism in different parts of the world which is a crime."

The email informed the couple they would be charged criminally unless they replied to the email within 24 hours and stopped "further contacts with any bank(s) or person(s) in any part of the world" regarding the email.

The FBI reminds the public that it does not send emails informing people they are charged with a crime and does not ask for money.