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Scam text costs Louisiana woman her life savings
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ROBERT — For many, spam text messages and phone calls are part of everyday life. One woman in Tangipahoa Parish replied after receiving a spam text message, and it ended up costing her thousands of dollars.
Virginia Wilson had grand plans to build a small house where she could live out the rest of her days. Those dreams crashed in June when she mailed off her life savings to a stranger living out of state.
"They were going to help me," she said.
It all started with a text message, asking Wilson if she approved a $3,000 charge for an Xbox and tablet. The text said that if she did not approve the charge, she should call a number provided. Wilson called the number.
"They got me at a time in my life when things just lined up just right, almost like—were they looking in on my life?" said Wilson.
The scammer told Wilson over the phone that there was a warrant out for her arrest. Wilson said the scammer made her believe that her identity had been stolen and her phone had been hacked after she was told someone racked up over $700,000 in her name.
"So they were going to freeze my Social Security; they were going to freeze it until all that money was paid back," Wilson said.
The caller said if she cooperated, they'd help her. Instead, they took everything she had. Wilson says she was very scared, but all the while unable to contact anyone for help because the scammer had convinced her not to tell anyone. Instead, the scammer told her to go to the bank to take out money and start paying down that debt.
The first bank she went to turned her away.
"They said, 'You can't just walk in and get that kind of money,'" Wilson said.
All the while, that scammer listened on the phone, tucked in Wilson's purse. When the first bank refused, he told her to go to another bank.
"He said if they ask you, tell them you're renovating your house," said Wilson.
This time, she got a certified check for $33,800. She mailed the check overnight to an address in North Carolina. The scammer told Wilson that this showed a "good faith effort" and she'd get the money back while the scammer worked to clear her name.
"I did exactly what he said," Wilson said.
Today, Wilson still waits for that refund.
The scammer didn't stop there. They continued to call and text, asking for more personal information until Wilson looped in her family and blocked them. Looking back now, Wilson says she recognizes the red flags. She hopes her misfortune will save someone else from loss.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating Wilson's case. That address she mailed the check to is a real house in Raleigh, NC. TPSO says that a law enforcement agency does not call, text, email, or DM people to "clear" warrants or to bond people out of jail. The agency does not collect fines over the phone. The TPSO says that if you receive a call from someone claiming to work for TPSO or any law enforcement agency and you are unsure if it is legitimate, it's best to hang up and call the non-emergency number back. If someone has outstanding warrants or tickets that need to be paid, you will be notified by mail or in person.
If you suspect a spam text message, it's best not to reply. Instead, block or report the number to your mobile service provider. Be extra careful if the message seems urgent or time-sensitive.
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