Lakeland police are warning residents about a slick bank-fraud scheme working local phones and computer screens, coaxing people into pulling cash from their own accounts and handing it to a so-called courier who shows up to collect it. Scammers often pretend to be teamed up with law enforcement or a bank’s fraud unit and, in some cases, claim they are secretly investigating bank employees to pressure victims into moving their money. The department says seniors are frequently targeted and is urging everyone to slow down and stay skeptical.
The department laid out the warning in a Facebook advisory, explaining that scammers reach out by phone or via alarming internet pop-ups and that caller ID can be spoofed to display a bank’s business name, according to the Lakeland PD Facebook post. The post also includes a phone number and an email address for residents to report suspicious contacts.
How the scam works
According to police, fraudsters typically tell victims there is suspicious activity on an account and then instruct them to withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or hand over debit cards or PINs for supposed “safekeeping.” The Federal Trade Commission notes that legitimate banks and law enforcement will never ask customers to move money or turn it over to “protect” it, and advises people to hang up and verify any alarming request by calling their bank with a trusted number, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Similar cases across Florida
Law enforcement agencies around Florida have been seeing similar schemes. In one case, Martin County detectives recovered $17,000 after scammers arranged for a victim’s cash to be picked up in person, as reported by TCPalm via Yahoo. In another, Ocoee Police recently urged residents not to respond to suspicious text messages and to call their banks using verified phone numbers, according to the Orange Observer.
What to do if you’re contacted
If a phone call or pop-up starts demanding urgent action on your bank account, hang up or close the window immediately and call your bank using the number on your statement or the back of your card. Do not dial any number the caller or pop-up provides. Lakeland Police shared a reporting phone number and email in their advisory, asking anyone who believes they were targeted to contact the department at 863-834-6966 or [email protected], according to the Lakeland PD Facebook post. You can also report impostor scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FTC says.
Staying calm, double-checking with a trusted family member, or talking to a bank representative before moving money is often the quickest way to dodge these confidence cons. If you believe you have lost funds, contact your bank immediately and file a police report so investigators have a chance to trace where the money went.
