Mesquite police thwart alleged scam after woman withdraws $45,000 in cash from two banks

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Mesquite police say a scam they haven’t seen before started with a phone call to a 75-year-old retiree in Mesquite in September. Police say the woman was told there was a problem with her bank accounts and alleged scammers said they were from different agencies.

“FBI, Better Business Bureau, US Marshals to name a few. At one point they even spoofed a call from the Mesquite Police Department on our main number,” said Mesquite Police Sergeant Wyatt Oliver.

According to police, callers tried to convince the woman that even a bank was not a safe place for her money. She ended up withdrawing $45,000 from two local banks.

The alleged scam was different than what Mesquite police have seen.

“This was very unique because it was actually someone who came to meet her in person to take the money,” said Sgt. Wyatt Oliver.

Sergeant Oliver says a one-on-one meeting can be very dangerous.

‘Someone could be armed because he comes to get a lot of money. And if the person decides, no, I don’t want to go through with this, then I feel like this is vague. I don’t want to do it, they probably won’t leave without fighting for their money that they want to steal,” said Olivier.

However, the police had a different idea. Instead of the woman meeting the suspect, the police would go in her place. The police came up with the idea when the woman became suspicious and called.

The meeting was planned in the parking lot of a Smith’s supermarket. Police say they believe the suspect became nervous when he saw the car he was about to encounter but did not see a woman driving. He left the parking lot, but police stopped him for a traffic violation.

Police say they discovered nearly $100,000 worth of gold and silver in the suspect’s car. Police identify the suspect as 32-year-old Mihirkumar Amin of Anaheim, California. Police arrested him but say he has since been released from prison.

Police say they found phones, computers and laptops in the car and they believe Amin drove to Mesquite from Anaheim and planned to drive back after collecting the money. Police say more people may be involved and the investigation is continuing.

People who receive a similar call are urged to hang up and call their bank directly. Mesquite police say they would also like to be notified. At this time, there is no word on who the gold and silver belong to.