An Edmond seafood shop is out several hundred pounds of snow crab and roughly $5,000 in profit after what the business is calling a prepaid pickup scam. Staff say they initially refused to load the order into the suspects’ unrefrigerated truck, but the vehicle left with the crab anyway. Less than 10 minutes later, according to the shop, a caller from California reported that the card payment used for the order had been reversed. Edmond police have taken a report and are coordinating with federal agents, as per KOKH.
How the pickup unfolded, according to the shop
The company shared photos of the truck online and asked neighbors to help identify the people involved. The order was prepaid and involved several hundred pounds of snow crab. Employees say the truck had Texas license plates and that they refused to load the seafood into the unrefrigerated vehicle before the crab ended up leaving with the truck anyway. The owner estimated about $5,000 in lost product, as reported by KOKH.
Why pickup scams like this can work
Scammers often lean on speed and confusion, using quick payment reversals, impersonation, and the urgency of a scheduled pickup to get goods in hand before anyone realizes the money is gone. According to the FBI, potential victims should slow things down, independently verify payments, and report suspicious activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.
Police response and what they are looking at
Edmond police filed a report and, per KOKH, contacted the FBI field office in California to share the photos and tips the shop collected. The business has asked neighbors to review doorbell camera and dashcam footage for any images of the truck.
What small shops can do to protect themselves
For merchants handling high-value or perishable pickups, extra caution helps. Shops can require refrigerated transport for large seafood orders, confirm that electronic payments have fully cleared before handing over goods, and back up every transaction with photos and receipts. The FBI’s scam guidance also urges businesses to keep detailed records so they can submit complete reports to IC3 and local law enforcement if something goes wrong.
How to report tips
Anyone who spotted the vehicle or has video of it is asked to call the Edmond Police non-emergency line at (405) 359-4338 or contact the Edmond Police Department online. Information can also be submitted to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.
