Police Seek Fake ‘Bank Examiners’

Police have released two composite sketches of a man or men believed to have bilked elderly Spokane and North Idaho women out of thousands of dollars in the past two years.

Detectives are investigating 15 cases in which a man posing as a bank examiner or police officer phones the women. He asks them to withdraw large sums of cash from their bank accounts to help in a theft investigation, Spokane Police Det. Larry Evans said.

The women withdraw the money and are asked to deliver it to the man, who is usually on foot in the NorthTown Mall parking lot.

Victims provided descriptions that led to the sketches, but police are unsure if there is more than one suspect. The suspect or suspects have scammed at least three women in the past week, Evans said.

No legitimate business ever asks customers for money in such a manner, Evans said.

He is asking residents with elderly neighbors or family members to warn them about the scam.

Anyone with information about these scams should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 sketches