District Attorney Warns of New Scam: Fraudsters Instruct Victims to Install Banking Apps and Deposit Cash

We are alerting the public to a new scam tactic that has recently been reported in our area. 

Scammers are contacting individuals and instructing them to download a banking app, often from a bank the  person does not use, and to access an account. The fraudsters then direct victims to deposit cash into an ATM  using the tap/mobile feature on their phone. 

If you are contacted by someone asking you to: 

• Download a banking app from a bank you do not use 
• Deposit cash into an ATM using a mobile banking app for any reason 
• Transfer funds to “protect” your money 

This is a scam. 

Legitimate banks and government agencies will never ask you to access accounts for someone else, deposit  cash into an account that is not yours, or move your money to protect it. Once cash is deposited, it can be  quickly transferred out, making it extremely difficult to recover. 

How to Protect Yourself 

• Do not download apps at the direction of someone you do not know and trust. 
• Never deposit cash or transfer funds for someone else. 
• Do not share banking information, verification codes, or login credentials. 
• If you are unsure, pause and verify directly with your financial institution using a trusted phone  number. 

If you believe you have been targeted or have questions about this or other scams, please contact our Scam  Hotline at 805-568-2442. 

We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to share this information with family and friends, especially seniors  and vulnerable community members.