DECEIVED & DRAINED: BSO WARNS RESIDENTS OF BANK PHONE SCAMS 

POMPANO BEACH – Detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) are warning residents to stay alert as bank phone scams are on the rise in Pompano Beach and surrounding communities. 

Over the past few months, BSO’s Pompano Beach District has received more than a dozen reports of victims losing thousands of dollars to scammers posing as bank employees. 

In one case, a victim was convinced to withdraw $15,000 in cash and hand it to someone they believed worked for their bank. In another, a couple was told to place their debit cards in an envelope and give them to a man impersonating a bank fraud investigator. The scammers later charged over $9,000 to the couple’s cards. 

HOW THE SCAM WORKS 

• Scammers call pretending to be from your bank’s fraud department. 

• They warn of “suspicious activity” or possible fraud on your account. 

• They instruct victims to withdraw cash or hand over their debit card and PIN. 

• Victims are told to place the cash or card in an envelope and give it to an Uber driver arranged by the scammer—without speaking to the driver. 

Once the exchange is made, the money is gone. 

BSO SAFETY TIPS 

• Hang up immediately if someone claiming to be from your bank asks for money, your PIN, or personal details. 

• Call your bank directly using the number on your statement or official website. 

• No bank will ever ask you to withdraw funds and hand them to a stranger, or place your debit card in a ride-share vehicle. 

“If it sounds suspicious, it probably is,” BSO warns. “Scammers are always looking for new ways to separate you from your money—don’t give them the chance.”