Scenario: You receive an official looking email from your bank. They are asking you to help them with an investigation into a bank employee. First you are asked for personal information to prove your identity, and then you are asked to go to the bank and withdraw money that will be re-deposited the next day.

Scam: After withdrawing the money, you are stopped on the way home and the money is stolen. Later you find that the personal information that you gave them has been used steal your identity.

This is an old scam with many variations. Victims often are asked to help do some good and people are compelled to help the "inspector" if they can. It is human nature not to ask questions of authority figures and fraudsters take advantage of this. Another variation is to claim to be a prospective business partner with an "opportunity of a lifetime". You are asked to "prove that you trust them" by coming up with cash. You could be approached by someone claiming to be a new immigrant who does not trust banks. When you try to explain that banks don't steal your money the "immigrant" asks you to withdraw cash to prove that it is actually there. Then they grab the money and run.

The greatest risk to the victim of bank inspector fraud is the potential loss of identity. You may be able to recover from the loss of cash, however, having your credit and reputation ruined by having your identity compromised can take years to untangle.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a Bank Inspector Fraud we want to know. Contact us and take ACTION NOW!