Attempted Theft By Deception / Banking Official in Spain

DATE & TIME: 10-12-2017 @ 1222 hrs

LOCATION: Rural Beatrice, Nebraska

OFFENSE: Attempted Theft By Deception

CASE #: 2017-5622

A rural Beatrice resident came to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and spoke with an investigator, reporting that his mother had received a letter, purportedly from a banking official in Spain that a person with the same name as his mother had died and left 26.7 million dollars in the bank. The letter proposed that the money could be split between the banking official, his mother, and a charity, with 50% going to the banker, 40% to his mother, and 10% to a charity.

He stated she had not given out any personal, confidential, or financial information or responded to the letter, although she thought it was a legitimate offer, but did not believe she had lost any money. The investigator confirmed for him the letter was fraudulent and to contact her bank and to check the status of her accounts and current credit cards and to continue to check the mail for any additional attempts at fraud.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to use caution when dealing with persons on the telephone, via the Internet, or through the mail, when demands are made for money or payment or there is an offer that does not follow legitimate or regular business practices. Anyone who suspects they have received a call, e-mail, or correspondence involving fraud are urged to contact their local police department or contact the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310