A photo of a red alert symbol on a light red background.
ALICE, Texas — An employee at the Alice Wells Fargo branch recently stepped in to protect a local woman who almost fell victim to a scam.
Alice police say the local woman received a call from an unknown number who informed her that her grandson had been in a terrible accident, and she needed to transfer $9500 to them over the phone otherwise he would be arrested.
That’s when police say the local woman drove to the Wells Fargo branch in town and attempted to withdraw that large sum of money.
While this woman was attempting to withdraw this money, she shared her story with one of the bank tellers. That’s when the teller quickly recognized this common scam and stepped in to help.
Alice Police Chief Eden Garcia is warning the community about these fraudulent scams. “This incident serves as an important reminder for everyone to remain cautious and verify any unexpected financial requests before sending money,” Chief Garcia said in a statement.
This instance provides us with an opportunity to educate the community about these common scams. It’s important to understand that no federal or state agency, law enforcement official, or court is going to call you directly to demand payment, especially if the payment is in the form of gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Gift cards and crypto currency are not valid forms of payment for the government or courts. If someone is telling you to purchase large sums of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or withdraw large amounts of money, hang up immediately and call the Alice police non-emergency line.
The new age of AI also presents unique risks for scams, as these people can now mask their real voice, or impersonate the voice of a well-known figure or even one of your relatives. It’s important to always verify with family members in person about large financial transactions.
The community can tackle these scams by approaching the issue collectively. Every member of the public can do their part by educating older friends and family members about these common scams.