Bank scammers convinced Minnesota Vikings EDGE rusher Dallas Turner to send them $240,000 after claiming to be representatives from his bank.
The scam occurred back in February, with the scammer who called Turner claiming to be a JP Morgan Chase banker. He told Turner that there was someone at a Chase Bank at a branch in Arizona.
The caller convinced Turner that to prevent that person from fraudulently withdrawing money, he should transfer his money to two separate business accounts. Turner then went to two different Chase branches and at each of them transferred $120,000 to fraudulent business accounts. Only later when talking to a relative about what happened to him did Turner begin to suspect he had been a victim of a scam.
Neither Turner nor the Vikings has commented publicly on the matter, and an attorney representing Turner has also declined to comment.
Police have asked JPMorgan Chase whether its internal investigation indicated that any bank employees could have played a role in the scheme.
Scammers are going after everyday people. It should come as no surprise, sadly, that they would try taking advantage of a young NFL player.
So far, less than $2,500 of the money has been paid back. It’s an unfortunate way for Turner’s first full NFL offseason to begin. Thankfully, it appears that a resolution could be coming soon.