SEQUIM — Employees at a gas station broke open an automatic teller machine inside the business after they were contacted by a scammer, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said.
A 911 caller reported two men inside the closed gas station about 1:28 a.m. Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff’s deputies, Sequim police officers and a State Patrol trooper responded to the report of a possible robbery in progress as the caller described the men striking the cash machine.
Deputies contacted the two men inside the store and observed a large amount of cash on the counter along with tools that had been used to access the ATM vault, the Sheriff’s Office said.
After investigation, deputies determined the individuals were gas station employees who had been targeted by a scammer.
The employees said they had received a call from someone claiming to be the business owner. The caller instructed them to download a third-party app and call back using a number he provided. The caller then directed the employees to remove cash from the safe, registers and ATM for an “emergency pickup.” When the employees said they could not access the ATM, the caller instructed them to break it open, assuring them it was insured, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies spoke directly with the caller, who eventually admitted to being a professional scammer, the Sheriff’s Office said. He taunted deputies by saying they would never be able to identify or capture him before cutting off communication.
No money was stolen. The business only sustained damage to the ATM from the attempted entry, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Scammers often impersonate business owners, managers or corporate representatives to trick employees into releasing money or property, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“If you receive unusual instructions to handle cash, safes, or ATMs, verify directly with your employer through a known phone number before taking action,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release.
Those who have experienced a similar scam are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2262 or dispatch at 360-417-2459, option 1.
