Police alert elderly to scam

Older people, frequently the targets of swindlers, need to be especially alert to a scam under investigation by Springfield police.

According to police public information officer Kirk Manlove, on Feb. 7 a suspect posing as a bank employee phoned two elderly victims and persuaded them to withdraw money and turn it over to a phony "bank security officer" at another location, claiming that this would help the bank solve an internal theft. One victim lost $4,300, the other $4,800.

Police advise that banks never enlist the help of customers on internal theft investigations, and that should anyone receive such a call, they should get the name and phone number of the caller and call the bank. They also advise that no citizen should withdraw money and meet with anyone they do not know, or disclose personal information to unsolicited callers.