(Editor’s note: After the January Fire, Palisades residents are fragile, many of us are still dealing with personal and emotional losse,s and predators know it. A reader sent the following true story to alert everyone about scams. Share this information with friends and neighbors.)
I am writing to ask you to post a reminder about being vigilant against fraud and scams. I am afraid people affected by the fires may be particularly vulnerable given all the turmoil we have experienced and the fatigue from everything we’re dealing with.
Someone I know, “John,” was hoodwinked by an extremely insidious scam this week.
The scammer claimed to be an employee in the Wells Fargo fraud department—John does have a Wells Fargo account.
The fake employee told John that his account was compromised, and that “scammers” were clearing the money out.
The fake employee explained that the Wells Fargo fraud department blocked the account… and John had to get the money out via cashier’ checks to be deposited into a new account.
The fake employee also told John not to trust the bank tellers if they inquire about the big checks, because they are likely scammers themselves!
He went to the bank, but an alert bank manager recognized this withdrawal as fishy and stopped the cashier’s checks. If not for this bank manager, John would have lost a lot of money.
I am sure John was more vulnerable given the mental and emotional toll of the fire and that’s why I wanted to share. Please: don’t send money to people who initiate calls to you, especially not under pressure, and especially not using methods that can’t be undone (like cashier’s checks, Venmo friend payment, bitcoin).
If a caller claims to be an employee with your bank or credit card, say you will have to call back and then call your actual bank or credit card company—neither of which should ever solicit money over the phone.
Call a friend or family member to get a gut-check before you send any money to anyone under strange circumstances. Remember: you can always say no, it should be your default answer, and you can always hang up.
And remember: the more outlandish something is, the less likely it is to be true!