By Sara Jean Green Seattle Times staff reporter
Scammers have managed to bilk more than $7 million from 46 victims across the state, nearly half of them in King County, by convincing them their bank accounts or computers have been compromised and the only way to safeguard their money is to hand over large amounts of cash to couriers who will deliver it to a trusted government agency.
“The one thing we know about those numbers is we’re undercounting because those are only the ones where people recognize they’ve been scammed and are willing and able to call law enforcement,” said Patrick Hinds, the chief deputy prosecutor of the economic crimes and wage theft division within the King County prosecuting attorney’s office.
It’s one of several recent attempts to steal money from Washingtonians. Drivers have been receiving phishing scam text messages purportedly from the “Department of Motor Vehicles” — an agency that doesn’t exist in the state — directing them to pay a fine or face dire consequences. And Bellevue police warned of scammers posing as Chinese law enforcement who have managed to trick people into giving up millions of dollars.
Hinds initiated something of a media blitz last week in hopes of warning people to look out for red flags so they don’t become scam victims in the first place, or, if they do, provide ways to protect themselves against future financial fraud. (continued on page 2 here)