Hello guys! I run a tea house and one of my 16yo employees told me that he got scammed for $4000 just recently. He was on the verge of tears just telling me the story. I really wish he was more aware but I'm not sure if I would have been any better at 16yo. He's completely broke and the bank is demanding he pays back the money. I was hoping anyone could offer some advice? I told him after researching it looks like a long shot he'll ever see that money again but I'm not as knowledgeable as you guys are. At the least hopefully this will spread awareness of the fake check scam.
Here's the story: 1) Some non-close acquaintance he goes to high school with posted on her snap chat asking if anyone had a Wells Fargo or Bank of America account. He responds to her via snap chat and says he does. Later in their snap chat conversation she says someone took her phone and she doesn't know who it was, which I'm thinking is BS.
2) She/the supposed person she doesn't know asks him if he wants to make some quick money and to text a number from Nevada if he does. He agrees and then the Nevada number asks for all his personal information (bank account number, last 4 SSN, address, full name, PIN number, etc.) Thinking he didn't have much to lose because he only had $300 in his bank account, he went ahead with it. Later that night, the number from Las Vegas sends someone to get my employees debit card from his house. My employee agrees and gives it to him.
3) The next day there is $5000 in his account. Apparently the person using this Nevada number deposited a $5000 check into his bank account. Later that morning, the Nevada number tells him to go to the bank and withdraw $3000, and the rest is his cut. The scammer then sent the same guy back to collect the money and to give back my employee's debit card.
4) A few days later, the check is obviously deemed fictitious and rejected, and my employee's balance is now -$4000. Apparently someone using his debit card got money from the ATM ($600 & $400 withdraw). It was most likely the guy who picked up the money in my opinion.
5) Of course I wish my employee would have used his brain a little bit more but what do you guys think he should do now? I have already helped him file a police report indicating his acquaintance as the suspect but he has not reached out to this acquaintance yet and he doesn't know the identity of the scammer or the guy who picked up the debit card and money (could be the same guy but who knows).
I also recommended he looks through his acquaintance's Facebook to see if there are any friends from Nevada but I'm not sure if that will help any. I also tried to use Spokeo to look up this scammer's number but it returned with nothing.
I really want to help this kid because I feel so bad for him. Is there anything else we can do? Thanks guys for any help at all.
Submitted October 05, 2017 at 03:55AM by 5birdspillow http://ift.tt/2xihLUX
