Some of the most vulnerable people in our community are seniors. Fraudsters frequently target seniors in an attempt to scam them out of their money. An informed senior can see through these scams and protect themselves. From our partners at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, here are some tips about “The Bank Investigator Scam”.
Suspect(s) contact seniors by phone advising that they require their assistance to catch a bank employee that “has been stealing money”. The person is instructed to go to their bank and make a cash withdrawal, usually in 100 dollar bills, for amounts in the $5,000.00 dollar range. The person is told not to tell the bank teller what they are doing because the teller may be involved. The senior is instructed to place the cash in an envelope and meet the ‘Investigator’ in a nearby parking lot where the cash is turned over.
Since 2010, the CAFC has received 66 complaints of the bank investigator targeting Senior citizens. 36 of the complaints are listed as victims with a total dollar loss of $241,200.
If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.antifraudcentre.ca. Fraud: Recognize It, Report It, Stop It.
How to Protect Yourself
Never give cash to someone you don’t know or are meeting for the first time.
Financial institutions will never solicit assistance from you for internal investigation.
Contact police or the financial institution immediately to verify the telephone call you received.