Bank employees in Kinston, North Carolina, called police on October 29, 2026, after a man attempted to withdraw $10,000 from a First Citizens Bank customer’s account. Employees reported that he was using fraudulent identification.
Officers confirmed the identification was false and arrested Willie White, 64. The Kinston Police Department announced the arrest the following day in a release published by Neuse News.
Investigators subsequently linked White to an October 21 transaction at the same bank, when police say he used a different customer’s identification and personal information to withdraw $10,000. The October 29 encounter was an attempted withdrawal, not another completed payout.
Police charged White with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, two counts of identity theft and one count of possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Lenoir County Jail following his arrest.
North Carolina Law Covers Attempted and Completed False-Pretenses Transactions
Under North Carolina General Statute 14-100, obtaining property by false pretenses covers attempts to obtain property through deception as well as completed transactions.
The state’s identity-theft law addresses the fraudulent use of another person’s identifying information to impersonate them in financial transactions.
How Bank Customers Can Report a Withdrawal They Did Not Authorize
First Citizens Bank asks customers who notice suspicious activity to report it promptly at 866-567-7760. Customers can review their transaction history, retain records of withdrawals they do not recognize, and ask the bank to investigate and secure the affected account. The bank also offers text and email alerts for account activity.
The North Carolina Department of Justice advises victims to review account activity and contact local law enforcement when their identifying information has been misused. Victims can also use IdentityTheft.gov to document identity theft and obtain steps for account recovery.