The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) would like to remind the community to always be vigilant of potential scammers and wary of unsolicited communication—especially if the communication involves money and the need to act immediately.
This week, an elderly Grass Valley woman was duped into giving away approximately $40,000 in cash. The scam began when she received a text message, seemingly from a popular bank branch that she utilizes reporting possible out of state fraud charges on her account (this was a scam). The victim replied to the text, noting she did not make the charges. The scammer then called the victim and explained her account had been compromised.
Through the course of her interactions, the victim was tricked into removing money from her account at various banking locations for the scammer, who again was representing themselves as a banking official.
This scam is being actively investigated with no further public details available for release.
General Bank Scam Prevention Tips:
• Protect Personal Information: Individuals are advised not to share bank account numbers, debit or credit card information, Social Security numbers, passwords, or PINs with unsolicited callers or messages. Financial institutions will not request sensitive information in this manner.
• Use Caution with Calls and Texts: Unexpected messages claiming an account is “locked” or “compromised” should be treated with skepticism. Links and phone numbers provided in unsolicited communications should not be used.
• Verify Before Taking Action: If contacted by someone claiming to represent a bank, individuals should disconnect and contact their financial institution directly using the number listed on their card or official website. Caller ID information should not be relied upon, as it can be manipulated.
• Remain Alert to Phishing Attempts: Emails and websites should be carefully reviewed for subtle misspellings or irregularities. Login information should only be entered through verified, official websites—not through links sent in messages.
• Be Wary of Urgent Financial Requests: Requests involving immediate transfers of money, wire payments, or gift card purchases are common scam tactics. Individuals are encouraged to slow down and verify the legitimacy of any such request.
• Monitor Financial Accounts: Regular review of bank and credit card statements is recommended to identify unauthorized activity.
• Trust Instincts: If a situation appears suspicious or unusual, individuals are encouraged to pause and verify before proceeding.
• Report Fraud: Individuals should report suspected fraud to their financial institution and the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
