A Vero Beach woman who became a victim of a Bank of America scam contacted law enforcement on June 14, 2019, after losing $14,977.75, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 13, 2019, the victim received a call from someone pretending to be from Bank of America. The person acted like a representative and advised the victim that there were “suspicious transactions posted to her Bank of America checking account,” and they were in the process of reversing the fraudulent transactions.
The person on the phone told the victim that there was no need to contact law enforcement because they would be doing that for her. They kept the Vero Beach woman on the phone for approximately four hours.
They also advised the victim not to log into her bank account since it “would ruin the work,” they were doing.
While on the phone, the bank representative said the victim had to turn over her debit and credit cards to a field agent. The new debit and credit cards would be sent to her in the mail.
A person showed up at the victim’s home, pretending to be a field agent, to retrieve the debit and credit cards.
The following morning, the victim’s bank called her about fraudulent transactions that occurred the same day:
- $922.88 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,502.67 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,001.78 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,502.67 – Publix Supermarket
- $992.88 – Publix Supermarket
- $992.88 – Publix Supermarket
- $992.88 – Publix Supermarket
- $992.88 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,502.67 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,001.78 – Publix Supermarket
- $1,001.78 – Publix Supermarket
- $400.00 – Bank of America ATM withdraw
- $700.00 – Bank of America ATM withdraw
- $700.00 – Bank of America ATM withdraw
- $700.00 – Bank of America ATM withdraw
The total amount taken from the victim was $14,977.75.
Fortunately, the victim has a “ring video doorbell” that recorded the so-called “field agent,” when they picked up her debit and credit cards. It also showed the vehicle.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said they are investigating the case.
Bank of America says consumers should remember not to give any personal information over the phone. They said a representative would never ask for account information or to visit your home to retrieve a debit or credit card. For more information, visit Bank of America and read their privacy and security.
