KINGFISHER, Okla. –
A retired Kingfisher teacher is going into the new year a little wiser and with a warning for Oklahomans. The woman fell prey to a cyber scam just before the holidays, almost losing $30,000.
It all started with a pop-up on Melody Isbell’s computer screen. A phone number led her straight to a fraudster early waiting to drain her savings accounts.
The cyber scam started days before Thanksgiving.
“She said don’t trust anybody, don’t tell anybody about this,” said Isbell. “She didn’t want me to tell my daughter, my sisters, my son, the bank, nobody.”
Isbell was told her computer was compromised. The scammer convinced her the only way to fix it was to withdraw everything from her savings accounts.
“So how much total? Thirty thousand,” said Isbell.
Isbell was instructed to send the cash in a box to a UPS location in California. She mailed the box the day before Thanksgiving but had a bad feeling. Isbell called her sister and her banks.
“It’s unfortunate that it happens as often as it does,” said Jeff Johnson, President BancFirst Kingfisher.
Jeff Johnson, the President of BancFirst in Kingfisher said customers rarely if ever get their money back once it is gone.
“If you’re ever told on the phone to not tell the true story or actually what’s happening or why you’re pulling money out of your account,” said Johnson. “You need to not do it or talk to somebody you can trust.”
Isbell’s case turned out different than most. Johnson said most likely because the cash was sent the day before a holiday, it gave the bank time to intervene.
“I just felt like God was looking out for me,” said Isbell. “I thought, please.”
Isbell was able to get the box of money sent back home, a huge relief for the retired teacher. Isbell said if she could go back, she would have never responded to the pop-up on her computer screen.
“Turn your computer off and if they tell you don’t tell anybody,” said Isbell. “You better tell somebody.”
Because scammers often target the elderly, bank tellers will ask questions if a customer is withdrawing a large amount of cash. They it’s not to be intrusive but to determine if someone is at risk.
A similar scam happened to a Kingfisher man last year. He was scammed out of his life savings by sending money through couriers. Thieves will also have victims deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs.
