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Theft by Deception

DATE & TIME: 10-09-2020 @ 19:26

LOCATION: Clatonia 

OFFENSE: Theft by Deception

CASE #: 2020-4600

A resident of Clatonia notified that Gage County Sheriff’s Office that she had been a victim of a scam and had lost approximately $1,150.00.  She states she received a phone call from a number with an out of state area code and a male identified himself as a federal law enforcement officer.  She was then put in touch with another suspect who led her to believe he was a federal law enforcement officer.  She was told a criminal investigation was underway involving drugs, money laundering and a recovered vehicle that had blood inside it.  She was also told she had been under surveillance due to the circumstances of the case.

There were personal issues involving the victim the suspects were able to exploit to further their scam.  The combination of these issues and the suspects veiled threats, breviloquent information provided, and uncertainty about the situation, caused her to continue to fall victim to the scam.  She was told that by moving the money in her bank, they would be able to protect her account and two federal agents would be at her house the next day to provide her with the banking information.

One of the suspects was able to inveigle her into going to Lincoln to buy gift cards and provide that information to him over the phone.  He stayed on the phone with her as she purchased three separate gift cards and gave the redemption/PIN information to him.  When she returned to Clatonia, she began to realize this was a scam and after speaking with her adult son, she called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office to report the theft.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges people to be very wary of scams, frauds, and other forms of deception, whether on the phone, online, via mail, or in person.  At any point where a person is being threatened or extorted, break off the contact with the suspect and call a family member, a trusted professional, such as a banker or accountant, or call the local police department or the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310