SCAM ALERT - Gloucester Township Police are warning residents about a scam targeting older adults. (PLEASE SHARE)
THE SCAM: The victim receives a phone call or text message from someone claiming to work for a bank’s fraud department. The scammer may say that bank tellers or employees are stealing money from customer accounts and that the victim must assist with a confidential investigation.
The victim is then instructed to:
• Withdraw a large amount of cash from the bank
• Lie to the bank teller about why the money is needed
• Keep the investigation secret from family members, bank employees, and police
• Place the cash inside an envelope, box, or bag
• Hand the package to a rideshare or delivery driver sent to the victim’s home OR drive to a convenient store and send the money through crypto currency.
The rideshare driver may not know that the package contains money and may unknowingly deliver it to another person involved in the scam.
REMEMBER:
A legitimate bank, police department, or government agency will NEVER instruct you to secretly withdraw cash or give money to a courier, rideshare driver, or delivery service or instruct you to send money via crypto currency.
Never provide account information, verification codes, passwords, or personal information to an unsolicited caller.
Do not trust the phone number shown on Caller ID. Scammers can make it appear that they are calling from a legitimate bank or government agency.
Hang up and contact your bank directly using the telephone number printed on your bank card or official statement.
Please speak with elderly family members, friends, and neighbors about this scam. A simple conversation could prevent someone from losing their life savings.
