Common Frauds
Swindlers sometimes convince bank account holders to withdraw
funds, promising them an immediate windfall or telling them
that their money will be immediately re-deposited in order
to test the honesty of a bank employee. Don’t withdraw
large sums of cash, either to show to a stranger or give, even
for a few minutes, to someone you do not know. One of
the most prevalent of these types of con games is known as
the Bank Examiner Scheme:
The phony examiner scheme is a popular swindle usually perpetrated
against elderly customers. One variation of the scheme
involves the con artist impersonating the financial institutions
auditor or a law enforcement officer, such as an FBI agent,
rather than an examiner. The elements of the scheme are:
- The
customer (victim) is confronted in person or by telephone by
a stranger who claims to be a federal/state bank or savings
and loan examiner.
- The stranger claims an employee of the financial
institution is altering deposit records and stealing the
funds.
- The stranger asks the customer to withdraw funds,
mark the money and give it to him. He says that he
will then redeposit it, creating a trap if the employee alters
the deposit slip and attempts to steal the money. The
customer never sees the stranger- or his or her money-again.
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