Mary Massey thought she was signing a slip to transfer money from her checking account into her savings account.
It turns out the 90-year-old was being tricked into signing a cash withdrawal slip, the Atlanta Police Department said Tuesday. And once the $10,600 was taken from Massey’s account, a bank employee deposited it into his personal account, according to police.
Now authorities are looking for other possible victims, APD Officer Kim Jones said.
Police began investigating after Massey reported that she believed her money had been stolen, Jones said. Working with Wells Fargo, police identified a bank employee, Daniel Araujo, as a suspect in the theft.
Jones said in an email that Araujo had befriended Massey and had “called her to come into the bank branch.” Once there, Jones alleged, “Araujo manipulated the victim into signing what she thought was a transfer slip from her checking to her savings, but which in fact turned out to be a cash withdrawal slip.”
Araujo was charged Friday with felony theft by taking and financial exploitation of an elderly person. He posted bond Sunday and was released from the Fulton County jail.
Investigators believe Araujo may have stolen from additional victims.
“A review of his personal account records show over $50,000 in cash deposits recently,” Jones said.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim should contact Atlanta police.
A Wells Fargo spokesman said Massey’s money will be returned to her. The bank is cooperating with police in the investigation.
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