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…
MANAGEMENT & CULTURE (THE “TONE AT THE TOP”)
Fraud thrives in “sloppy” environments where leadership ignores the rules.
- The Fraud Triangle: For fraud to occur, three elements must be present: Pressure (the need for money), Rationalization (thinking “I deserve this”), and Opportunity (weak controls). You can only control the Opportunity.
- Whistleblower Hotline: Provide an anonymous way for staff to report “odd behavior.” Most internal frauds are caught via tips, not audits.
- Background Checks: Conduct credit and criminal record checks for all employees in financial or data-sensitive roles.
- Annual Ethics Training: Make sure every staff member knows that the company has a Zero Tolerance policy toward “borrowing” from petty cash or fudging overtime.