OGUNQUIT (WGME) –A southern Maine small business owner is hoping to warn others after losing thousands of dollars to scammers who were posing as her bank.
“If I didn’t think it was ever going to happen to me and it happened,” Amy Kelly of TaleSpinStudio in Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove said. “Then maybe we can sort of branch out and make sure it doesn’t happen to other people.”
Kelly says the money was part of a Small Business Administration disaster loan intended to help upgrade the building that houses her studio, which was damaged during a storm in January.
However, earlier this month, she received a call from what she believed was Bank of America, alerting her to suspicious charges on her account.
“I answered because I’ve had these calls before,” Kelly said.
The caller claimed that her account was at risk and suggested that she screen-share her phone to execute a wire transfer to “protect” her funds.
“I said, ‘What do we need to do to make sure this doesn’t happen?’ and he said, ‘We have to reverse it,'” Kelly said. “So, the language that he used made me sort of get confused. My logic went out the window and I began to panic.”
By the time she realized it was all a scam, the money was already gone.
“All of sudden I look and I see the money go right out of my account,” Kelly said. “I could see it right on my screen.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter schemes like this have topped the list of fraud cases in Maine for five consecutive years. So far this year, more than 1,300 such scams have been reported in the state, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
Kelly has reported the incident to both the police and Bank of America but was informed that there was little they could do.
“They knew about it. They know this happens all the time,” Kelly said.
The CBS13 I-Team reached out to Bank of America to ask what safe guards are in place to protect customers from this type of fraud. They ignored our request for comment.
In light of her experience, Kelly is now urging others to take precautions.
“I would empower people to share their story about a scam that happened to them, no matter how minor,” Kelly said.
What are imposter scams?
Imposters are dishonest people who want to steal your money or get your personal information. They might call you on the phone or send an email or text.
Imposters might say:
- They are calling from a tech support company about a problem on your computer.
- They are calling from your bank and want to help clear up some “fraudulent” charges.
- You owe money to the IRS or another government agency.
- You just won a prize, but you have to pay fees to get the prize.
- A friend is in trouble and needs your help.
- You got a check for too much money, and you need to send back the extra.
How do I avoid an imposter scam?
Scammers are good at being friendly. They also are good at fooling people. Here is how you can stop a scammer:
- Don’t wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment app to pay someone who says they’re with a certain company or the government. Scammers insist you can only pay these ways because it’s hard to track that money, and just as hard to get it back. They’ll take your money and disappear.
- Stop and verify. Hang up the phone and call the government agency or person directly at a number you know is correct. If the call is a robocall, don’t press any numbers. Pressing numbers could lead to more calls.
- Don’t trust your caller ID. Your caller ID might show the company or government agency’s real phone number or name, like “Bank of America.” But caller ID can be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world.
- Don’t click on links in unexpected emails, texts or social media messages. Scammers send emails and messages that look like they’re from a government agency but are designed to steal your money and personal information. Don’t click on any link and don’t pass it on to others. Just delete the message.
Imposter scams often go underreported in the U.S. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a scam like this, you can report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-382-4357.
Have a consumer issue you want the CBS13 I-Team to investigate? Call their tip line at (207) 228-7713 or send an email to [email protected]
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