Hmm… That Doesn’t Seem Right!
Some time after banking hours, on a mild evening in August 2008, two security guards took up position outside a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Tigard, Oregon. Customers who turned up to deposit their day’s takings patiently read the ‘out of order’ sign on the automated deposit slot and gratefully handed over their money to the guards who volunteered to make the deposits for them the following day. Each deposit went into an official looking black box and by the end of the evening several businesses had left hundreds of dollars with the official-looking guards.
The problem, of course, was that the whole thing was a scam. Two men aged 19 and 20 dressed up in uniforms and with an engraved ‘out of order’ sign were able to convince sensible and hard-working business owners that they were there to help.
The good news is that the men were both caught and are facing charges of theft. But the sad news is our willingness to accept most unusual behavior as long as it carries some semblance of authority.
So, today’s tip is simple. It may sometimes be an inconvenience, but don’t be afraid to speak out if something seems unusual or unexpected. Whether it involves odd-looking bank charges, unapplied supermarket discounts or miscalculated overtime payments, it’s always worth taking the extra time to make sure you don’t lose out. Not everyone is trying to scam you, but no one else is going to look out for your interests either.
Have you ever been the victim of or narrowly avoided being the victim of fraud?
Comments
Nope. I hand over my hard earned money to the taxman on time and trust my gov't to do what is right for me and my country.