Eugene Police report increase in scams targeting older residents, with victims coached to justify wire transfers. Officials urge caution, verification, and reporting suspicious contacts.
Eugene, OR. — Eugene Police Department (EPD) officials are warning residents about a growing trend of financial scams targeting older individuals, particularly involving fraudulent wire transfer requests.
According to EPD, a local bank recently reported an uptick in elderly customers attempting to wire money under suspicious circumstances. Bank employees observed that many of these individuals appeared to have been coached by scammers to provide false explanations, such as paying for home repairs or sending money to relatives.
Authorities say the funds in these cases are often ultimately transferred into accounts controlled by scammers, making recovery difficult once the transaction is completed…