EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. (KY3) – It starts with a simple text alert warning of a suspicious charge, but it can end with an empty bank account.
Now, a Cedar County woman is speaking out after she thought she was protecting her hard-earned money, only to lose it in minutes.
Linda Reynolds said the ordeal began when an urgent message popped up on her phone.
“I got a text message asking me if I tried to use my Chime card in Florida at Chick-fil-A. I just typed no and texted them back,” Reynolds said.
Shortly after replying, Reynolds said she received a phone call. The caller claimed she was facing another unauthorized charge—this time for rent—and promised they could reverse the transaction if she followed their step-by-step instructions.
Believing she was speaking with legitimate fraud prevention specialists, Reynolds followed along.
“He was telling me everything I had to go through on my…
This involves defrauding the state or using government systems to steal from individuals.
- Tax Identity Theft: A criminal uses your ID and income details to file a tax return in your name and claim a refund before you do.
- Grant/Benefit Fraud: Falsely claiming unemployment, disability, or social grants that the perpetrator is not entitled to.