Police warns of scam targeting mobile payment applications; ways to keep yourself protected

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Financial Unit is warning the community of a scam targeting mobile payment applications.

In February 2022, police became alerted of the mobile payment scam in Colorado Springs.

How the scam plays out:

• The suspect asks to borrow the victim's phone to make a call; informing the borrower their own phone had died and wanted to contact a friend in the area.
• With the phone screen being held out of the victim's sight, the suspect then opens the victim's Venmo application and proceeds to make many money transfers.
• Each money transfer the suspect would make is without the victim's knowledge or permission.

Police say over a dozen additional victims came forward with the incident.

“This is a simple scam but has a tremendous impact on its victims. The suspect can scam the victim right in front of them without them knowing what is going on, all while the victim is trying to be a good Samaritan,” explains CSPD Financial Crimes Unit Detective Ray Wetzel.

One suspect has been identified and arrested. They are being held at the criminal justice center in another city for the same money transfer crime.

Police say they are not releasing the identify of the suspect just yet. This will allow time for additional victims to come forward.

If you think you've become a victim to the mobile payment scam, please contact CSPD at 719-444-7000.

“Our goal is to care and serve our community. Nobody should have to experience this type of crime, and we want to do everything we can to hold the suspect accountable and provide support and justice for our victims,” says Detective Wetzel.

Safety tips if you fall into a similar situation

• Do not lend your personal property to those you don't know.
• Enable password protect on as many mobile applications as possible.
• If you think the person is requesting to contact an actual person, put your phone on speaker and offer to dial the number for them. Do not let allow the person to hold or manipulate your phone at any time.