Salina Post
Victim of fraud recovers over $7,000 before nearly losing the amount by a scammer.
According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Monday, a 74-year old woman was on her computer at home, when suddenly a fraudulent pop-up came across her browser. She then clicked on the pop-up and was provided a phone number to contact.
Afterwards, the woman contacted the phone number and connected with someone claiming they were from the "FDIC fraud division from Sunflower Bank." The caller advised that she needed to go to her bank, take $7,400 from her checking/savings account and transfer the amount over to the scammer.
The scammer gave instructions to the victim to say to the banktellers, she is needing the cash to "take a trip to Jamaica," if they expressed concerns of fraud. The victim then said the statement to the tellers and withdrew the full amount.
Furthermore, the scammer told the victim to turn the cash into Bitcoin. She then was able transfer the amount through Bitcoin Depot, which the funds were placed into a Bitcoin wallet.
Shortly after, the victim contacted SPD about concerns of her being scammed.
SPD was then able to contact Bitcoin Depot to freeze the victim's account, before the money was fully transferred.
The victim successfully recovered the full amount.
SPD Lt. Zeigler warned the public that it is a scam, if people tell you to lie to the bank and say you taking a trip somewhere you are not.