Police in Delray Beach have a warning about a bold and brazen scheme to steal people's debit cards.
Detectives believe thieves target senior citizens by posing as bank employees.
When a Delray Beach man, who asked us not to reveal his identity, answered his phone on September 29, the voice on the other side claimed to be a woman from his bank.
“She was very believable. I went along with it and thought it was for sure,” the 81-year-old remembered.
Eventually the woman on the line convinced the man police caught someone trying to use his debit card and now it needed to be replaced. She added she was sending a co-worker to his condo to make the exchange.
“This was a real well thought out scam,” the victim said.
He was still on the phone with the woman when a man dressed in a suit knocked on his door. He claimed he was from Chase Bank, and showed a credential. He said he needed the man’s debit card and he would return with a replacement.
The victim had reservations, but handed it over.
“Probably within 15 minutes they had wiped out my entire account at Chase Bank,” the victim admitted.
Delray Beach Detective Kim Mead said this man isn’t the only victim of this crime. She’s working two cases in her city, and has counterparts across Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Broward counties investigating similar scams.
Her best advice is do not believe anyone from a bank who claims they’re sending someone to your home.
“Bank representatives don't normally do that. They're not going to show up to your house and try to get your card from you,” Mead said.
It's a lesson this Delray Beach man learned the hard way.
“They really had me fooled. I don't think I’ve been hoodwinked that way any time in my life,” the 81-year-old said.
He hopes sharing his embarrassing story will ensure no one else is fooled.
Mead said she has leads, but is not ready to name any suspects. This victim described the man who took his debit card as a black man in a suit, standing about 6’4” and built like a football player.