Smithfield Couple Loses Thousands In Fraud Scam
SMITHFIELD — A Smithfield couple in their early 70s was targeted in an elaborate fraud scheme in late December after scammers posing as bank and law enforcement officials convinced them they were helping protect their finances.
The 72- and 74-year-olds received a Dec. 20 phone call from someone claiming to represent the fraud departments of Wells Fargo and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the call, they spoke with several individuals who told them their help was needed to investigate alleged fraudulent activity by a bank employee.
Believing the story, the couple stayed on the phone while withdrawing $40,000 from their Wells Fargo branch in Smithfield. They were then directed to a Walmart in Raleigh, where they gave the cash to a man in the parking lot who was wearing a mask and what appeared to be an FBI badge.
The scheme continued with instructions to withdraw additional funds from other Wells Fargo locations and mail the cash through the U.S. Postal Service and UPS. By the time the fraud was uncovered, the couple had lost $62,477.
The victims told investigators their bank account had been compromised several weeks earlier, making the scam seem more legitimate.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case. No arrests have been announced.
Elder fraud remains a serious problem. Scammers frequently impersonate financial institutions and government agencies to pressure older adults into turning over money or access to accounts. North Carolina ranked 12th among states in reported financial losses to fraud by adults over age 60 in 2024, with seniors across the state losing nearly $77.4 million, according to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data.
Nationwide, older Americans reported more than $3.4 billion in losses to scams in 2023. Complaints from adults age 60 and older rose by about 14%, with average losses nearing $34,000 per victim. Impersonation scams targeting seniors have increased more than fourfold since 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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Life in the pen would be my thoughts on that
“They were then directed to a Walmart in Raleigh, where they gave the cash to a man in the parking lot who was wearing a mask and what appeared to be an FBI badge.” Who takes 40K out of a bank and take it to a parking lot to give to someone. WOW!!
The problem is WF…
somebody tried to get $15,000 from me…….i took it outta WF and opened a new acct at another bank
I’ve gotten that call. I laughed at them and hung up. Same goes for IRS calls. The IRS does NOT call people.
Never believe anything anyone you don’t know personally calls and says out of the blue. If in doubt, hang up and check another way.
Why oh why do ppl accept these calls. Someone needs to track the call if possible and change them with fraud and lock them up. I feel so bad for this couple. Please don’t anyone accept any calls saying they are lawyers or law enforcement
The thieves are very likely spoofing their phone numbers to make the calls look legitimate. They can make your caller ID say any number they want. Most of the scammers use an app to change the “number” you see on Caller ID.
Until apps like Vicidial are shutdown, the scammers will not stop. They can spoof any number, IRS, SSA, any hospital, sheriff’s office, bank your Mom, your children, etc…..I have actually been called from my own phone number! Stay vigilant and informed, so you can educate others.
Nor especially from Wells Fargo, that is one huge scam!!! You would think their bank would have called them!
And at what point do you start blaming the person scammed? Under any circumstance would someone withdraw their money and drive to a Walmart in Raleigh and hand over money? They are in their early 70’s and should know better. At some point a person has to use common sense and think what about this is right? I keep seeing these stories of people getting scammed and sometimes I just shake my head! Listen people, don’t ever take and give money to anyone period!!
Agreed. I hate to say it, but these people are in their early 70s and scams have been around for DECADES. It’s not like they’re 100 years old and senile. This is something they should have been aware of since they were much younger.
People, I’m sorry but this is happening way too frequently. You might think your older family members are too smart for this, but they’re clearly not. You need to be checking in with them weekly and reminding them that scams aren’t just “a prince from Nigeria” anymore. It DOES NOT MATTER if someone says they’re from their banking institution, or gives “proof” that they know you. Scammers can find EVERYTHING about you on the internet. Especially with tax season coming up. Don’t reply to emails. Don’t answer unknown numbers. Don’t call those numbers back if they leave a voicemail. It might sound silly, but call the police if you aren’t sure. I can guarantee they’d much rather spend 5 min telling you to it’s a scam, rather than see yet another retiree lose tens of thousands of dollars and then have to “investigate” it when they know there’s no point, and the money is never getting recovered.
I’m amazed that anyone that age, with money in the bank could be that stupid ! Having closed out an account at that bank in the past, it’s difficult to believe the tellers passed that amount of money across the counter. What happened to the bankers that cared ? the employees that knew this wasn’t normal ? If I tried that at KS , one of my kids would get a phone call, before I left with the cash. Your dad’s here, the cheese has slid off his cracker, how long before you get here ? Must be a shortage of give a poop bulbs in the county.
Use the brain God gave you and don’t be stupid……