Detectives in Burbank arrested a man on Wednesday who they say pretended to be a Bank of America employee, convinced a woman her debit card had been compromised, then arranged for a courier to pick up her ATM card and used it to steal funds. The bust capped what police described as a focused, relatively quick investigation into a local fraud scheme.
Detectives say the raid turned up cash, fake IDs, and a ghost gun
When officers served a search warrant at the suspect’s home, they found “dozens of counterfeit identification cards,” stolen access cards, and a large amount of cash, according to NBC Los Angeles. Investigators also recovered what the department described as a stolen ghost gun, the outlet reports. Police have not publicly released the suspect's name.
How the scheme played out, according to police
Police say the man convinced the victim that her debit card had been compromised, then “picked up the ATM card under pretenses through a courier,” according to NBC Los Angeles. Authorities have not said whether anyone else was involved, and detectives are still working to collect evidence.
Burbank police have long warned about bank-targeted scams
Burbank police have previously urged residents to be extra careful during bank transactions after seeing more crimes aimed at customers withdrawing cash, including skimming and so‑called “bank jugging,” according to materials from the Burbank Police Department. Local advisories remind customers to conceal their cash and PINs and to call 911 if they think someone might be following them after a withdrawal.
How to protect yourself from impostor scams
The FBI notes that impostor and spoofing scams often lean on a sense of urgency and caller ID trickery. It advises people never to hand their card to a stranger, to contact their bank only using a number from the bank’s official website, and to report suspicious contacts to IC3 or local police, according to the FBI.
How to report tips or possible victimization
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Burbank Police Department Investigations Division at (818) 238‑3210 or the non‑emergency line at (818) 238‑3000, according to the Burbank Police Department. Detectives are encouraging anyone who thinks they may have been targeted in a similar way to contact investigators so accounts can be reviewed and possible evidence collected.
