A West Hartford business received a phone call from someone claiming to be a fraud manager at Webster Bank.
The caller was not working for the bank, police say. By the time the interaction ended, the Connecticut business had lost $50,000.
The investigation eventually led detectives to Junior Astre, 41, of Loganville, Georgia. According to CT Insider, police spent more than a year working the case before bringing him back to Connecticut.
Astre faces five charges, including identity theft, money laundering and larceny. He was being held on a $100,000 bond pending his arraignment.
The Caller Claimed to Work in Webster Bank’s Fraud Department
The case began June 18, 2025, when the West Hartford business reported receiving a fraudulent telephone call. Police Capt. Aaron Vafiades said the person contacting the company presented himself as a fraud manager from Webster Bank. During the scam, the business lost $50,000.
West Hartford detectives continued investigating after the initial report and eventually identified Astre as a suspect. Police have not explained what evidence connected him to the fraudulent call or how investigators traced the $50,000. The investigation ultimately extended to Georgia, where Astre was being held before West Hartford detectives took custody of him on August 5.
Detectives Brought Him Back From Georgia
Police extradited Astre to Connecticut after taking custody of him at a Georgia jail. He was charged with first-degree identity theft, second-degree money laundering, first-degree larceny, criminal impersonation and second-degree telephone fraud.
Astre was held on a $100,000 bond pending an August 7 arraignment. No plea, conviction or final court resolution had been publicly reported when his arrest was announced. The charges are allegations, and Astre is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Businesses Should Verify Fraud Calls Through a Separate Channel
Webster Bank warns that scammers impersonate fraud-department employees and may make calls appear to come from legitimate telephone numbers. A business receiving an unexpected call about suspicious account activity should end the conversation and contact the bank independently using the number on an account statement, bank card or official website.
Webster also advises customers not to disclose passwords and to protect account authorization codes. An unsolicited authorization code or access request should not be shared with someone claiming to work for the bank.
Businesses can add another safeguard by requiring a second employee to approve large transfers, new payees or unusual changes to payment instructions. Accounts should be monitored regularly so an unauthorized transaction can be identified quickly.
If money has already been transferred as part of a suspected scam, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center advises contacting the financial institution immediately to request a recall or reversal when possible. Businesses should preserve telephone numbers, emails, transaction records, account information and other communications and submit a report to IC3.gov.