Elderly Ashford woman loses thousands of dollars in scam, sheriff's office warns community

A sophisticated scam targeting elderly residents in Ashford led to significant financial losses for one victim, as reported by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. The scammers, impersonating representatives from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), falsely informed the victim that her bank account had been hacked. They manipulated her into withdrawing a large sum of money and insisted she keep the situation secret from family members, claiming that no one could be trusted. Following a tip, law enforcement orchestrated a sting operation, successfully arresting a courier who arrived to collect $25,000 from the victim. This incident is part of a broader investigation into a potentially large-scale scamming operation affecting the community.

The Sheriff's Department emphasized the unusual nature of this scam, as it involved direct contact with the victim, unlike many scams that occur solely over the phone or online. Community members are urged to remain vigilant and to communicate about these deceptive tactics with their loved ones. The department's spokesperson highlighted the importance of awareness in preventing such manipulative schemes.