A Scottsboro resident received a call that sounded like it came from her bank’s fraud department. Police say it was part of a scam built around a fake federal agent, a mailbox pickup, and a request for cash.
The caller told the woman her debit card had been compromised, according to WAFF.
Then the instructions became stranger. She was told to leave her debit card in her mailbox so a federal agent could pick it up.
The woman became suspicious when the caller also told her to make a large cash withdrawal and leave the money in the mailbox so the agent could mark the bills as evidence.
The Scam Used A Bank Warning To Set Up A Mailbox Pickup
Scottsboro police warned residents to be careful with anyone claiming to represent a financial institution or law enforcement.
The scam depended on a familiar first step: tell the victim a debit card or bank account has been compromised. Once that fear is in place, the caller can make unusual instructions sound like part of an investigation.
In this case, the supposed investigation involved leaving a debit card and cash outside the home for pickup. Police did not report that the woman lost money.
The Cash Request Exposed The Setup
The victim grew suspicious when the caller moved from the debit card claim to a large cash withdrawal.
That is common in bank impersonation scams. The caller starts with a believable fraud alert, then asks the victim to move money, withdraw cash, hand over a card, or take an action that benefits the scammer.
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers often claim money must be moved, withdrawn, or transferred to keep it safe. The agency says a real bank, government agency, or law enforcement office will not tell people to move money to protect it.
A Real Bank Call Should Be Checked Through The Bank
Scottsboro police advised people not to provide personal banking information to unsolicited callers.
Anyone who receives a call about a compromised debit card can end the call and contact the bank through the number printed on the back of the card, the bank’s official app, or the bank’s verified website. If the caller says a federal agent is involved, the bank can still confirm whether the card has actually been locked, replaced, or flagged for fraud.
If a card number, PIN, online-banking code, or account detail was shared, the next call should be to the bank’s fraud department. The card can be frozen or replaced, the PIN changed, recent transactions reviewed, and any unauthorized charges disputed before more money leaves the account.