A South Euclid woman fell victim to an elaborate scam, losing $23,000 in a single day after being deceived by individuals posing as financial experts and a fake FBI agent, according to local police.
The scam began on the morning of October 19 with an email, claiming to be from Discover, alerting the woman that her Social Security number had been found on the dark web. Concerned, she searched online for LifeLock, her identity protection provider, and unknowingly selected a fraudulent customer service number from a deceptive website.
The Fraud Unfolds
Upon calling the number, the victim spoke to someone identifying herself as “Sandra Palmer,” who claimed to work for LifeLock and provided a fake employee ID. “Palmer” informed her that a request had been made on the dark web to transfer $23,000—the exact balance in her checking account.
The woman was then directed to contact a “security expert” and provided another phone number. When she called, she spoke with a man named “Sim Rhodes,” who later transferred her to “Jack Lawson,” allegedly a fraud expert at her bank, Flagstar Bank.
According to “Lawson,” her account had been compromised, and she had two choices: transfer the money into a cryptocurrency account or hand it over to an undercover FBI agent, who would open a new, secure bank account for her. Trusting the advice, she agreed to meet the supposed FBI agent.
A Day of Withdrawals
Starting at noon, the victim visited three Flagstar Bank branches across different cities, withdrawing varying amounts of money while staying on the phone with “Rhodes.” After obtaining $23,000 in total, she was instructed to drive to a Taco Bell parking lot and later to a Starbucks lot, where she was told to provide her vehicle description and license plate.
At the Starbucks location, a man fitting a specific description approached her car. The victim described him to police as being of Middle Eastern descent, approximately 5’9” with an average build, a beard, and dressed in dark jeans, a green vest, and a light-colored baseball cap. She handed over the money and briefly followed the man before being told by “Rhodes” to stop, as the individual was “undercover.”
The Realization
When the promised information about her “new bank account” never arrived the next morning, the woman realized she had been scammed.
“She thought she was dealing with LifeLock, her bank, and the FBI,” South Euclid police explained. “This led her to withdraw and hand over the money.”
Investigation Findings
South Euclid police determined that the woman had inadvertently contacted a fraudulent phone number for LifeLock, linked to an independent company in India called “Get Best Deal.” Additionally, the parking lots where the exchanges occurred lacked surveillance cameras, complicating the investigation.
Calls to the numbers provided for “Palmer” and the other fraudsters went unanswered, with no option to leave voicemails. Police also noted that since the victim willingly withdrew the funds, recovering the money is unlikely.
The woman has since filed a claim with Flagstar Bank.
A Warning to Others
South Euclid police are urging residents to be cautious if contacted by anyone requesting money. “Always verify the legitimacy of such requests by contacting police, trusted family members, or your attorney,” they advised.
This case serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams targeting unsuspecting individuals.