NFL first-round draft pick falls victim to cunning bank impersonation scam that cost him thousands
Context:
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner, a first-round NFL draft pick, fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam, resulting in a $240,000 financial loss. The scam involved a caller posing as a JPMorgan Chase banker, claiming that an attempt to impersonate Turner had occurred at a bank branch in Arizona. Turner was instructed to transfer $240,000 to two business accounts to prevent the alleged theft, which he did before realizing it was a fraud. Following the incident, several suspects have been identified, and an investigation is underway to hold the culprits accountable. Authorities are also probing whether any JPMorgan Chase employees were involved, given the fraudsters' access to Turner's sensitive account details.
Dive Deeper:
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner was targeted by a scammer who impersonated a banker from JPMorgan Chase, tricking him into transferring $240,000 to fraudulent accounts.
The scammer claimed that someone was attempting to impersonate Turner at a Chase Bank in Arizona, using this pretense to persuade Turner to make two wire transfers, each of $120,000, to 'Island Food Truck LLC' and 'CNL FL LLC'.
Turner realized the scam after discussing the situation with a family member, prompting an investigation by the Eagan Police Department, which has identified several suspects.
The police have inquired with JPMorgan Chase to determine if any of its employees played a role in the scam, considering the fraudsters had access to Turner’s personal and account information.
Dallas Turner, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was a standout player from Alabama, having earned the title of SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year during his senior year.