In partnership with federal agencies, BNPD detectives were able to make two arrests in a recent elder fraud scheme in which a local victim came close to losing their life savings. Following large amounts of money being intercepted by investigators, BNPD detectives contacted the sender, who thought they were sending the money to the U.S. Treasury following supposed personal information being compromised from a computer virus and a promise from the suspect posing as a U.S. Treasury employee to sort out the details and return the money.
The victim was later convinced to close other accounts and convert the money to gold, a tactic detectives say is uncommon among scammers. In this case, detectives say the victim was close to losing almost $450,000.
Fortunately for the victim, investigators intervened and were able to make a traffic stop on the suspects’ vehicle after they picked up the box they believed contained the gold bars.
Two suspects were taken into custody following interviews by detectives and charged with Theft of Property exceeding $400,000- Class B Felony; Unauthorized Use of Another Person’s Property to Facilitate a Crime- Class B Felony; Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise- Class Y Felony; and Criminal Impersonation 1st Degree- Class D Felony.
BNPD Criminal Investigations Sergeant Dustin Hamm offered the following advice to prevent being a victim of this type of scam- and others.
“First and foremost, always verify that the phone number or web address listed for a business is actually for that business. Many fake websites are now listed in the “sponsored” ads on search engines. And definitely don’t call or visit one that randomly pops up on your computer screen,” he said. He added that staying vigilant for anything that doesn’t look the norm is one of the best ways to stay safe among the many circulating scams.
“When it comes to elder fraud, a general rule of thumb is to ensure any of your elderly family members who regularly access sites via phone or computer are aware of the tell-tale signs of fraud. Don’t answer or return phone calls from anyone you weren’t expecting to hear from or whom you didn’t first contact. Only use trusted, time-proven websites, and check for the lock symbol in the web address. Generally, “.gov” and “.org” sites are more secure, but this isn’t always the case. Instill in them that it’s okay to ask for help, and when in doubt, log out.”
Additional tips to keep in mind regarding scams include:
-Government agencies will NEVER ask for cash, gift cards, gold, silver or Visa cards.
-Scammers use fear tactics often. These include threats of fines, arrest, imprisonment, etc. towards you or family members.
-It’s recommended to call a relative, friend, or law enforcement if you are contacted by someone you do not know and want to verify their legitimacy.
-The majority of scammers are located in another country. This means you will often encounter a foreign accent- but not always. And we are by no means saying that a foreign accent means fraud. Please don’t misinterpret.
Hamm said if you or someone you know becomes a victim of fraud, there are a couple of options. You can begin by reaching out to your local law enforcement agency, who will either take a report or point you in the direction of the appropriate agency that needs to take the report. Online scams can be far-reaching and involve multiple agencies, including federal. Sites such as Ic3.gov are utilized often to help regain funds lost through online scams, but it’s certainly not the only way.
If you have questions about a site or recent interaction, Hamm says not to hesitate to reach out to BNPD. “Officers are always happy to answer your questions, and it’s much easier to prevent fraud than recover stolen funds after the fact.”
Visit www.bentonpolice.org for general department information or call 501-776-5948 for questions related to fraud or other police-related matters.
