Bank scam in Anne Arundel County has victims withdraw funds, then pick the money up at homes, police say
Anne Arundel County police are warning residents about a phone scam in which callers posing as bank employees convince victims to withdraw money from their accounts before arranging for a rideshare driver to pick up the cash from their homes.
The scammers often claim to work in a bank's fraud department and use high-pressure tactics to convince victims their money is at risk, according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Victims are told someone has tried to access their debit card or bank accounts and that they must withdraw their money immediately to protect it.
Some victims told police the phone number displayed on their caller ID matched the number printed on their debit cards, making the calls appear legitimate.
Once the victims withdraw their money, the scammers arrange for a rideshare driver to collect the cash from their homes.
"They'll say, 'Hey, we're with the fraud department, your debit card is being used or accessed, and in addition to your debit card, people are trying to gain access to your savings account,'" Anne Arundel County police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy said.
"They keep them on the phone and then they're even using rideshares to come to the house to get the money," Mulcahy said.
How to avoid scams
Police say there are a few steps community members can take to avoid phone scams.
Follow the Golden Rule. Bank institutions will never ask for immediate payment over the phone or in-person. They will also never ask you to move money to another account to protect it.
Demands for immediate payment
Police warn that a demand for urgency in payment could be a red flag, especially through untraceable methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
High preassure threats
Scammers may threaten victims with immediate arrest if they hang up.
Secrecy
Scammers will tell victims not to talk to family, friends, or even their bank.
The "stay on the line" tactic
Victims are kept on the phone for long periods of time so they can't hang up and call for help.
Stop. Breathe. Don't Panic
Scammers want victims to act emotionally. Taking 10 seconds to pause before reacting can make a difference.
Resist the Pressure
If it is legitimate, it will rarely if ever require a fast decision.
Take notes and hang up
Write down the caller's name and why they claimed to call. Then, end the call.
Get help
Call someone you trust to get the answers you need.
Keep your information private
Never give out your social security number, bank information, or passwords to anyone over the phone.
Report the incident
If you are a victim of a scam or an attempted scam, report it promptly to the police and your bank.
"What they are preying on is your vulnerability, your emotions, your stress, your anxiety," Mulcahy said. "So we ask people to kind of slow it down at that point and the best thing to do is document and call your bank."
Senior citizens are often targeted by scammers, but police warn that anyone can become a victim.
"It's high-pressure, it's immediate payment requests," Mulcahy said. "Those are your immediate red flags, when someone is pressuring you to withdraw money right away."
