Your bank's fraud team calls with disturbing news: someone inside the branch may be taking customers' money. To help catch the employee, you must withdraw cash but keep the reason secret from the teller. Then an investigator will collect it.
That is the story impostors used in a bank-impersonation scheme described by the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office in Colorado on October 29, 2026. Officials said several residents recently reported losses totaling nearly $200,000. The exact dates of the individual thefts were not provided.
Sources: Pueblo County Sheriff's Office · FOX21 News / Brett Yager
The supposed investigation turns customers into cash couriers
According to a report by FOX21 News based on the sheriff's warning, the callers claimed to be bank fraud employees investigating attempted access to a customer's account. An incoming number could appear to match the bank, and callers sometimes possessed accurate personal or account details.
The next request was the giveaway. Victims were instructed to withdraw their own money and say little to bank employees, supposedly because tellers might be suspects. A caller then arranged for an alleged agent to collect a package of cash or a debit card. The claimed purpose was to examine the items for fingerprints.
That fingerprint explanation is a pretext reported by the sheriff, not a legitimate banking procedure. It turns an ordinary safeguard, asking a teller questions, into something the customer is urged to avoid.
Sources: FOX21 News / Brett Yager · Wells Fargo
Nearly $200,000 in reported losses
The sheriff's October 29 alert describes nearly $200,000 in recently reported thefts affecting several local people. It did not disclose the dates of each incident or say that the same people operated every call.
FOX21 reported that one victim was persuaded to provide a debit card later used for thousands of dollars in purchases. In at least one case, callers returned on subsequent days demanding more withdrawals. The person collecting a package was sometimes an uninvolved courier, according to the sheriff's account.
The reported conduct shares elements with older bank-impostor and courier-pickup scams. The fresh development is the Pueblo County loss warning and the specific fingerprint-investigation story, not evidence that this tactic began this week.
Sources: Pueblo County Sheriff's Office · FOX21 News / Brett Yager
The sheriff's practical rule
Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero urged residents to slow down and independently check financial demands. FOX21 included this direct advice in its October 29 reporting:
“Verify information with your financial institution before taking any action involving your money”
Sources: FOX21 News / Brett Yager
Four requests that should end the call
Caller ID can be spoofed. Even accurate account information cannot prove that someone on an unexpected call works for your bank. Wells Fargo's official guidance says banks do not direct customers to withdraw money or return cards to solve an account issue.
- A supposed bank investigator asks you to withdraw cash, hand over a card, or package money.
- The caller tells you not to explain the transaction to a teller or someone you trust.
- A courier or agent is supposedly coming to inspect currency or check fingerprints.
- The bank number on caller ID looks right, but the person refuses independent verification.
Sources: FOX21 News / Brett Yager · Wells Fargo
How to check a real fraud alert
End the incoming call.
Do not withdraw money or arrange a pickup while someone waits on the line.
Start a separate conversation.
Use your bank's official app or the number printed on the back of your bank card. Ask whether there is a genuine alert.
Tell your bank what was requested.
Mention any demand for secrecy, cash, fingerprints, a courier, or account access.
Keep your money and cards.
Do not give an unexpected visitor cash, a debit card, or identity documents. If someone arrives and you feel threatened, contact local police.
Sources: Wells Fargo · FOX21 News / Brett Yager
If you already handed over cash or information
Call your bank immediately using a verified number and report exactly what happened. If you surrendered a debit card, ask the bank to block it, investigate unauthorized charges, and issue a replacement. If you withdrew and handed over cash, report the incident promptly, although recovering physical cash may be difficult.
Keep safe copies of call logs, bank withdrawal receipts, messages and any delivery details. Contact local law enforcement and report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC recommends promptly contacting financial institutions and asking about recovery options; no refund is guaranteed.
You can look up or report suspicious numbers on PhoneYa for community context. A lookup does not certify the caller's identity. A spoofed number may belong to an uninvolved bank or person, so do not accuse its listed owner solely because the number appeared on a fraudulent call.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission · Wells Fargo · FOX21 News / Brett Yager
Sources & further reading
- Pueblo County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff's Office Warns of Scammers Posing as Bank Fraud Representatives | October 29, 2026
- FOX21 News / Brett YagerSheriff's office warns of scammers posing as bank fraud representatives | October 29, 2026 (syndicated October 30 UTC)
- Wells FargoIdentify and avoid bank imposter scams | safety guidance
- Federal Trade CommissionWhat To Do if You Were Scammed | consumer recovery guidance
By PhoneYa Editorial, based on the sources above.