Ankeny Fraud Victims Say to "Watch Your Accounts"

When Tiffany Hoffman’s husband, Adam, tried to use his business card Monday to purchase coffee, they were surprised when it was declined.

Knowing he had the funds in the account, Adam, owner of Lingo-Moxie Studios in Ankeny, checked his account balance online to find $503 had been withdrawn without his knowledge from an ATM in Los Angeles, Calif.

“It’s frustrating, and scary,” Tiffany said in an email to Ankeny Patch. “We racked our brains trying to figure out what in the world Adam could have purchased that would have leaked his numbers.

“We do not have a lot of extra income, if any, so $500 (missing) is a BIG problem for us.”

The Hoffmans weren’t the only people in Ankeny this week to discover money missing from their accounts. Nearly to the , although several hundred could be affected.

Ankeny police issued a public warning to residents yesterday, encouraging them to check their bank statements for fraudulent activity linked to their debit cards.

Although police are still unsure how the information was compromised, it was used to access ATMs throughout southern California, illegally obtaining money from accounts.

After realizing money was missing from their business account, the Hoffmans checked both past and present transactions on their personal account.

“Our personal account looked OK,” Tiffany said. “Adam then called our bank and they immediately locked the account.”

The Hoffmans’ bank, Polk County Bank, said the money would be back in their account within 48 hours.

“When you have things budgeted down to the penny, (not having this money) completely messes with paying your bills and getting the things you need,” she said.

Once Tiffany heard the Ankeny Police Department was investigating numerous fraud reports in the area, she contacted investigators in hopes her information might help police solve the case.

Although Tiffany is glad her bank helped ease her family’s anxiety, she’s going to remember a few things from now on.

“Keep track of your accounts, check them daily,” Tiffany said. “Get identity theft protection if you can, and budget money in your emergency fund for situations like this.”

Alicia Eichmeier and Shantelle Ford, both of Ankeny, also contacted Ankeny Patch to share their stories. Read about their experiences.