A recent scam almost stole $3,000 from a retired couple. Many fraudsters will use different tactics and stories but by breaking down this incident, we can see some common signs of a scam.
It started when a “worker from Walmart” called to confirm a $3,000 order. The couple didn’t make this order and was shocked. If we take a step back to think this through, we’d realize that it doesn’t make sense for a Walmart employee to question an order simply because of the price tag.
After this, the Walmart employee offers to connect the couple to their bank’s fraud department. This is very abnormal, as an employee may urge the customer to contact the bank themselves but shouldn’t personally intervene. To the couple’s surprise, a “police officer” responds to the phone call instead of the bank.
The fake police officer builds trust by using a fake name and badge number. He tells them they’ve been tracking a criminal and need the help of the civilians. Enlisting the help of civilians in this manner rarely occurs and is another red flag. In the end, the couple was told to buy gift cards from a local CVS, the last sure sign of a scam. Remember that no legitimate organization is paid through gift cards.
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