Crestwood Police warn public about local fraud scheme

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The Crestwood Police Department is warning the community about a fraud scheme after local residents have lost more than $13,000.

On Friday, the department announced that two Crestwood residents had been targeted by scams reported in November after the scammers posed as the residents’ financial institutions.

Police say the first circumstance was reported on Nov. 3. A Crestwood resident was convinced by a person who was posing as a credit union representative to withdraw $4,000 in cash. A courier then collected the money.

Police say another resident was contacted three times between Nov. 5 and 7. The scammer posed as the resident’s credit union and had information about her address, birth date and social security number, as well as a caller ID that appeared to be from her financial institution.

The scammer told the resident that $15,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from her account. Police say the scammer convinced the resident to withdraw $3,000, and that her assistance was needed with the investigation. She was told not to discuss the matter with anyone.

A courier went to her house to pick up the money. Police say this continued over the next two days, where the resident was asked to withdraw $3,000 two more times for the courier to pick up. In the last instance, the resident was out shopping, and the courier met up with her while she was out.

Police believe the courier may work for a rideshare service.

Police are reminding people that government agencies, banks and credit unions will never ask for cash as a part of an investigation, send a third-party courier, ask to keep an investigation a secret or transfer funds to protect an account from fraud.

Police ask that anyone targeted by this scam contact their local police department. Anyone who receives a suspicious call is advised to hang up and call their bank or credit union at a verified number.