Woman loses almost $4K in bank impersonation scheme in Villa Rica
Villa Rica police are warning residents about a sophisticated banking system that has already cost victims thousands of dollars.
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Police say criminals are becoming increasingly creative in exploiting people’s trust, often posing as representatives of financial institutions to gain access to personal and banking information.
In the most recent case, a woman from Villa Rica received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be from the fraud department of a local bank and told her there was suspicious activity on her account.
While keeping her on the phone, the caller began sending her text messages containing “verification codes,” asking her to read them out loud. According to the police, money was transferred from his account without his knowledge.
Police said the woman was asked to withdraw $3,700 in cash from her bank and give it to an “investigator” who allegedly scanned the money for fingerprints as part of an internal fraud investigation.
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Following the caller’s instructions and remaining on the phone the entire time, the woman withdrew the money, placed it in a taped box and handed it to a person posing as a “fraud detective” in the parking lot of the Villa Rica Walmart.
Police say the suspect took the money and told the victim someone would follow up with her. This contact never came.
“There are all types of scams and people report them daily, all of which result in thousands of dollars unnecessarily lost for victims,” Villa Rica Police Chief Michael Mansour said.
Chief Mansour offered a simple rule to residents:
Do not provide personal or banking information to anyone who calls or texts you unexpectedly. If something seems suspicious to you, hang up and contact your bank directly using the number indicated on your card or on the institution’s official website.
“Banks will never ask you to meet them in a random parking lot to provide them with money,” Mansour said.
If you think you have been a victim, contact the police immediately.
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