A Michigan woman lost more than $45,000 after scammers allegedly posed as Amazon, a bank and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in an elaborate fraud scheme.
The 48-year-old Monroe resident reported the incident to police on August 6th, prompting detectives to investigate the alleged scam, reports the Monroe Sun.
It began when the woman received a call from someone claiming to represent Amazon Customer Service. The caller told her that a Samsung cellphone had been purchased through her account.
After she denied making the purchase, the caller allegedly transferred her to someone claiming to work for TD Bank.
The call was eventually handed to a man who identified himself as “Steve Davis” and claimed to be with the Federal Trade Commission. He allegedly told the woman that 16 bank accounts had been opened in her name and were being used to launder money.
The alleged fraudster then warned that she could be arrested unless she transferred money to Wells Fargo accounts.
Believing the instructions were legitimate, the woman sent two wire transfers totaling $45,158. The payments were worth $24,016 and $21,142 and went to accounts belonging to people she did not know.
After receiving the money, “Davis” allegedly told her that the fraudulent accounts would be closed.
He also promised that people would come to her home with a cashier’s check reimbursing the entire amount, along with a replacement Social Security card.
Nobody arrived.
The woman contacted police after waiting for the promised visitors, leading authorities to determine that she had been targeted by a scam.
Police Lt. Kevin McKellick urged residents to independently contact financial institutions when they receive unexpected calls about fraud and warned against sending money to strangers to avoid supposed criminal charges.
“If you’ve been defrauded, you are a victim, and you will not be arrested if you are a victim. Do not wire money to people you don’t know for the promise of avoiding arrest.”
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