COUNTYWIDE : Con Men Targeting Seniors, Police Warn

Elderly residents, particularly those living in or near Leisure World in Laguna Hills, are being warned to beware of con artists posing as bank fraud investigators who authorities say recently tricked three octogenarians out of thousands of dollars.

Sheriff’s Department fraud investigator Stan Interrante said the thieves contacted the victims by telephone and persuaded them to withdraw money from their bank accounts. The victims were told their assistance was needed in order to catch an alleged thief at their bank.

“They will say that some criminal has gotten into the bank’s computer system and manipulated funds or that a thief has illegally cashed a money order drawn off their account,” Interrante said. “They will tell the person that they need their help to catch the criminal.”

Last month, an 87-year-old woman and an 86-year-old man, both of Laguna Hills, fell for the ruse and each handed over $4,800 to men who they thought were bank security agents.

“They told the victims to meet them at a designated area after withdrawing the money,” Interrante said. “When they meet them, they sound very convincing. They will show some type of official-looking identification badge and say that they want to mark their money, then redeposit it in the bank. But actually, they will just walk away and be gone, and the victim has lost their money.”

The third victim, an 87-year-old man from Laguna Hills, contacted authorities before handing over $4,200 requested last week by the thieves.

Interrante said it is important to remember that neither financial institutions nor law enforcement agencies ever ask people to withdraw money from their bank accounts for the purpose of catching criminals.

“I would like to stress to anybody, especially the elderly, that they be leery if they receive calls asking for financial or personal information,” Interrante said. “They, under no circumstances, should give that kind of information out over the phone.”