Alert Bank Teller Helps Save Scam Victim Thousands of Dollars

(KNSI) — An alert bank teller helped a scam victim recover $19,000 that would have otherwise disappeared.

Investigators said a resident contacted them in September to say they had been a scam victim. The person told them they were reading a newspaper online when the computer screen went black, and a message popped up saying the machine had been hacked and to call a special number. The fraudster on the other end said their bank account might have been hacked too, and they should log in and check. The victim said everything looked fine, but they were told to set up another bank account and transfer money into it to set a trap for the hackers. The victim did as they were told, thinking they were helping to catch the hackers and arranged to have $30,000 transferred into the new account.

The next day, the victim said they received a follow-up call informing them the new bank account had been hacked and that they needed to set up another one as a new trap. The victim was told to set up another transfer of $25,000 into the second account.

They went to their bank to set up the transaction and seeing the previous activity, the teller started asking questions and told them it sounded like they had been scammed. The second transaction was not completed, and the sheriff’s office got involved.

Between Stearns County investigators and the bank, they managed to recover $19,000.

The sheriff’s office says while it may not sound like a success since $11,000 was stolen, they count it as a win as, in most cases, the funds are moved too quickly or held in offshore accounts and never recovered.

If you feel you may have been scammed or are being scammed, the sheriff’s office says don’t hesitate to call the non-emergency number at 320-251-4240 and ask to speak to a deputy.

___