A Jacksonville couple who fell victim to a scam are warning: Tricksters are posing as Wal-Mart. A Northside man and his wife lost more than $1,600 in the scheme.
With holiday shopping season in full swing, 67-year-old Akbar Jamall is dealing with a frozen bank account, the aftermath of a scam.
“What I’m doing now is just trying to help somebody else,” he says, ‘cause I’m mad they got me.”
Jamall says his wife had been applying for jobs online when a letter came in the mail saying she got one. It’s written on “WALMART INC.” letterhead with the company logo.
The letter goes on to give an assignment: Send money, purportedly to help them root out criminal activity within the company. A check for $1,900 was attached. She was to deposit it. Then, once it cleared, take out $1,600 and wire it to accounts in Spain and Dallas, Texas.
Looking at a potential $300 profit, Jamall made a decision: “I’m gonna deposit it in the bank and let them do the detective work, and I’m sure they won’t give me a dime if the check is not good.”
But the bank let him take out the $1,600, and off it went, before saying the check actually was not good. Now his account is frozen, and late fees are racking up on his bills.
“I can’t even get any of my money that’s in the bank,” he says.
Jamall says next he’s filing a police report. And he’s hoping he can save the next person from falling victim to the same scam.
