CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A phone scam that convinces victims to hand over cash hidden in cereal boxes has cost people in Clay County nearly $70,000 in the past two weeks, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say the scam has targeted older residents. Callers pose as investigators with a bank’s fraud department or a federal agency and warn victims they could lose their life savings unless they follow instructions to withdraw $5,000 to $10,000.
“They’re putting fear into their minds. Like something bad’s gonna happen if they don’t listen to their instructions,” said Alyssa Huggins, a detective with the sheriff’s office’s financial crime section.
“They say that they need them to withdraw money, that they need to get fingerprints off of the money. So then they convince them that they need to make the big withdrawals from the bank and that once they complete their investigation, they’ll receive it back,” Huggins said.
Victims are told to stay on the phone, buy a box of cereal and put the cash inside. They are then directed to meet the scammer and hand over the box, with many handing over their life savings.
Huggins said victims have been coming forward after already handing over the money.
She said the calls can sound convincing and urgent, and the scam can unfold within minutes.
Anyone who receives one of these calls should hang up, call their bank directly or contact a family member, and report suspected fraud to law enforcement, Huggins said.
Huggins also encouraged children and grandchildren to talk with their relatives about current scams.
The sheriff’s office said these scams are constantly changing and tend to increase during the holiday season.
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