NEWPORT BEACH : Impersonators Try to Rob Woman

Police detectives are investigating a complaint from an elderly resident that two men tried to rob her of $4,800 by pretending to be administrators of her bank and asking her to withdraw the money and turn it over to them.

“It’s called the bank examiner fraud scam,” Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said Thursday.

The 80-year-old woman, whose identity was being withheld for her protection, received a telephone call at 10 a.m. Thursday from a man who identified himself as “Mr. Fisher,” an executive at her Bank of America branch.

The man told her that he was working on an investigation and that someone was trying to withdraw $4,800 from her account. He then asked her how much money she had in her account, saying the computer system at the bank was not in operation and he had no way of checking himself.

When she told the caller that she did not know, Gonis said, he asked her to go to her branch, withdraw the money and meet him and a state police officer at another Bank of America branch office at the intersection of Coast Highway and Avocado Avenue.

A short time later, she received a call from a second man who said he was a state police officer and was confirming the appointment, Gonis said.

“She told him that she was willing to help out,” Gonis said.

After taking the money from the bank, the woman drove to the corner and, noticing that there was no Bank of America branch at that location, “became suspicious and worried,” Gonis said.

The woman then returned home and called police, Gonis said.

Officers were sent to the intersection to see if anyone was waiting, Gonis said, but no suspects were spotted.

Gonis said the scam is not a new one. He said anyone who receives a call from someone who purports to be a bank employee should verify the call by contacting the bank. If the call is determined to be bogus, the intended victim should call police, Gonis said.