Sharpes
Postmaster Debra Terek (above) was concerned when an elderly customer requested
$9,200 in money orders and pulled out bank wrapped $100 bills. She engaged the customer in conversation and
learned that the money was from his savings.
Terek informed him that he could have gotten a cashier’s check from the
bank and when he replied that the money must be sent in money orders in a
manila envelope, her concern escalated. The customer went on to state that his
grandson was in an accident and suffered injuries and was also in jail. Sharpes asked the customer if he had seen his
grandson recently. The customer
responded that it had been several years, although he lives in Orlando. He went on to state his grandson’s
representative made the phone call and that his grandson spoke briefly and sounded
different because he had a broken nose. Terek informed the customer that she
was suspicious and asked if he had a phone number for his grandson. When the customer went to his car to get his
phone, Terek called the local Sheriff’s office to explain her suspicions and
asked if they could confirm if the grandson was in jail.
The
customer provided his phone to Terek and she called the customer’s son and was
told the grandson was not in an accident or in jail. The customer explained that during his
conversation with the grandson’s representative, he was told not to mention it
to his parents and that his grandson would tell them once he was released. Terek attempted to persuade the customer not
to purchase the money orders, but the customer wanted to proceed with the
transaction. Terek kept the customer
occupied until a Deputy Sheriff arrived and convinced the customer the request
for money was a scam. Law enforcement
thanked Terek for keeping the elderly customer from sending his life savings to
criminals.
Thank
you for your vigilance and customer concern, Debra!
