Scam Warning Issued In Stratford: Police

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford police are warning residents about a bank impersonation scam that they said has recently targeted local residents and caused “substantial financial losses.”

The scammers contact victims while posing as representatives from their bank, according to Capt. Jerry Pinto.

“They often use spoofed phone numbers that appear to be legitimate bank numbers and may have personal information, account details or knowledge of recent transactions, making the call seem legitimate,” Pinto wrote in a news release. “The scammer creates a sense of urgency by claiming your account has been compromised, involved in fraud or linked to criminal activity. They then instruct victims to withdraw money from their accounts and send it through wire transfers, cash apps, cryptocurrency, gift cards or other methods.”

Within the past month alone, Pinto said residents have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to the scam.

“Unfortunately, once the money is sent, it is often impossible to recover,” Pinto wrote. “If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank and they tell you your account has been compromised or instruct you to transfer, withdraw or send money, hang up the phone immediately.

“Contact your bank directly using a trusted phone number or visit a local branch and speak with a bank representative in-person.”