An Andover resident reported losing $48,000 to an online scam, and police are urging caution about wire-transfer requests.

Officers responded to a home on Francis Drive on Tuesday, July 15, after the resident told police she had sent $48,000 to individuals she later believed were scammers, according to Andover public safety radio transmissions reported by Andover News. While at the home, officers discussed whether the account could be frozen before more money disappeared.

Lt. Frank Fitzpatrick of the Andover Police Department confirmed Wednesday, July 16, that the case remains open.

"Many times, these scams are well orchestrated and can seem legitimate," Fitzpatrick said. "If someone feels as though they're being scammed, chances are someone else has fallen victim to a similar scam, so a simple internet search of the situation can produce information regarding the scam or similar ones."

Police have not disclosed what type of scam was involved or whether any of the $48,000 can be recovered. The report has not yet been finalized, Fitzpatrick said.

The Andover case follows recent phishing schemes that have prompted alerts from the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI, and several municipalities including Boston, Cambridge, and Newburyport, according to South Shore News. Those alerts all carry the same message: no municipal office will ever ask residents to pay a fee by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.

Fitzpatrick urged anyone who receives an unexpected online request for money to verify the circumstances before sending funds. He specifically flagged wire transfers as a warning sign.

Residents who believe they have been targeted can call the Andover Police Department's non-emergency line at 978-623-3500 or file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.