The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department is searching for an alleged scammer who attempted to steal $19,500 from an elderly Maine couple.
Cumberland deputies responded to the Androscoggin Savings Bank in Gray for reports of fraud. There, they made contact with bank management and an elderly couple who had fallen victim to an internet-based scam.
According to the Sheriff’s Department statement, the scammers convinced the victims that they were due a rebate, so the victims proceeded to allow them access to their computers or phones.
In these types of scams, the scammers use that access to create a fake bank account portal. They then claim that the rebate is a small amount but instead move a much larger amount into a fake account.
Scammers then point out the large amount in the fake account and ask the victims to go to their bank and withdraw the excess funds deposited to return them to the scammers.
While the victims followed the scammers’ instructions, they temporarily transferred the larger amount into the victims’ actual accounts so that the situation appeared legitimate.
The scammers allegedly tried to convince the elderly couple to give them money in the form of bitcoin, which failed. This was a bridge too far. So the fraudsters eventually sent a courier in person to collect the funds in cash.
The scam allegedly began on Thursday night, and the couple reported it the next day, allowing the bank to seal their accounts to prevent any additional funds from being stolen.
During their investigation, Cumberland deputies became aware of the location of the cash, and with help from FedEx, law enforcement was able to seize $19,500 in stolen funds intended for the elderly victims.
The Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the scam and has not yet identified a suspect.
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