Residents in Clay County, Florida, lost nearly $70,000 after scammers claiming to investigate financial crimes instructed them to hide cash in cereal boxes and hand it to strangers in grocery store parking lots.
Here's what to know
The scheme primarily targeted older residents during a roughly two-week span, according to Action News Jax.
The callers claimed authority by presenting themselves as bank investigators or federal agents, Detective Alyssa Huggins of the Clay County Sheriff's Office financial crime section told the station.
"They're putting fear into their minds," Huggins revealed. "Like something bad's gonna happen if they don't listen to their instructions."
Victims were promised their money back when the purported investigation ended. Some callers asked residents to withdraw $5,000 to $10,000, supposedly so investigators could check the banknotes for fingerprints, Huggins told Action News Jax.
A supposedly secure account featured in another version of the scheme. Customers were told to withdraw their savings so criminals could move the money beyond their reach.
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More background
An email address containing a financial institution's name helped make the impersonation look convincing during some FaceTime calls, Detective Michael Antonini added in an additional report from News4JAX.
"When you receive a call via FaceTime, an email address will pop up," Detective Michael Antonini of the Clay County Sheriff's Office explained to the outlet. "That email address will say the financial institution's name and part of the email address, so it just adds to the realism. These victims are under the impression they are cooperating."
Keeping victims on the phone allowed the scammers to arrange the withdrawal and handoff. To discourage anyone from ending the call, they warned that something bad could happen if the person hung up.
Home improvements or other expensive projects were the cover stories customers were coached to give at the bank. Antonini added to News4JAX that scammers supplied those explanations to keep bank employees from becoming concerned.
Once the money was secured, the scheme quickly shuttled it away.
"The suspect will coordinate with another courier driver and have that courier driver show up to the same store they sent the victim to," Antonini related to the station. "The victim will walk out to the parking lot, give the courier driver the package, and the courier driver will drive away."
What's being done?
The Clay County Sheriff's Office issued a warning on Oct. 26, reporting losses exceeding $60,000 among four or more residents, according to Wealth of Geeks. News4JAX reported that detectives had five cases under investigation as of Oct. 29.
Speaking with Action News Jax, Huggins advised scam targets to hang up and call their bank immediately. Another step is to contact law enforcement and other family members to warn them about the scheme.
News4JAX reported law enforcement is trying to track down the scammers by tracing email addresses and issuing subpoenas that could help unearth the perpetrators.
Where can I learn more?
Scammers elsewhere have used fake bank alerts and posed as law enforcement to demand money.
• A Florida man nearly wired cash after a sheriff impersonator emailed a fake warrant.
• In North Carolina, a fake deputy used a jury-duty scam to steal $2,000.
• Massachusetts residents lost $24 million as scammers spoofed FBI Boston's line and pushed an app.
• A 76-year-old New York woman handed over $60,000 after a fake bank text.
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