Waynesville Police Warn of Elaborate Phone Scams After Resident Loses More Than $100,000
Waynesville police are warning residents about increasingly sophisticated telephone scams after one local victim reportedly lost more than $100,000.
Investigators say the schemes frequently begin with a text message designed to look like an alert from a bank or financial institution. The message may claim suspicious activity has been detected and direct the recipient to call a telephone number or respond immediately.
Once contact is made, another person may call while posing as a member of the bank’s fraud department. The scammer attempts to gain the victim’s confidence by creating a sense of urgency and claiming the victim’s money must be moved or withdrawn to keep it safe.
Some recent schemes have gone beyond requests for gift cards or electronic transfers. According to Waynesville Police Detective Eric Batchelor, victims have been instructed to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars, place the cash in an envelope and leave it for a supposed courier. An unidentified driver then arrives to collect the money.
Police say legitimate banks and law-enforcement agencies will not send an anonymous driver to a customer’s home to retrieve cash. Residents should also avoid calling telephone numbers contained in unsolicited text messages.
Anyone receiving a suspicious alert should stop communicating with the sender and contact the financial institution through a verified number printed on a bank card or statement. Account passwords should be changed if information has already been provided.
Police also recommend discussing the warning with older relatives and neighbors, who are frequently targeted by scammers using fear, urgency and claims that an account has been compromised.
Suspected fraud should be reported promptly to the affected bank and local law enforcement. Acting quickly may improve the possibility of stopping a transfer or preserving evidence.
