Eugene Police Warn of Rising Wire Transfer Scams Targeting Older Bank Customers

Scammers are coaching victims to claim they need to wire money for home repairs or to relatives.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:20pm

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The Eugene Police Department is warning residents, especially older bank customers, about a rise in wire transfer scams. A local bank has reported an increase in elderly customers coming in to make wire transfers that ultimately end up in scammers' accounts. The victims have been coached by the scammers to claim they need to wire money for home repairs or to send to relatives.

Why it matters

These wire transfer scams can be devastating for elderly victims who may lose significant sums of money. The Eugene Police Department is trying to raise awareness about these types of scams to prevent more residents from falling victim.

The details

During interactions with the victims, bank employees noticed the victims had been coached by scammers to claim they were getting work done on their house or sending money to a relative. The police are urging residents to be cautious about any requests for wire transfers, especially from unknown callers, and to verify the legitimacy of the request with their bank in person before proceeding.

  • The Eugene Police Department has seen an uptick in these types of wire transfer scams targeting older bank customers.

The players

Eugene Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Eugene, Oregon that is warning residents about the rise in wire transfer scams.

Local Eugene Bank

A bank in Eugene that has reported an increase in elderly customers coming in to make suspicious wire transfers that end up in scammers' accounts.

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What they’re saying

“Please beware of anyone asking for a wire transfer and conduct your own research before transferring money to an account or person you don't know. Visit your bank to ask in person about any bank employees or persons who have called you and asked you to verify your personal and banking information over the phone.”

— Eugene Police Department

What’s next

The Eugene Police Department is urging residents to be vigilant and report any suspected scams to the authorities and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

The takeaway

These wire transfer scams targeting the elderly highlight the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any financial requests, especially from unknown callers, and the need for continued education and awareness to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation.