Abilene UPS employees stop $30,000 fraud just prior to Christmas

Diana Groom, Abilene Reporter-News
·4 min read
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UPS Store employees went above the call of duty just prior to Christmas here in Abilene. When the employees noticed an elderly man who was not entirely cognizant, they called the police before sending his package. As it turns out, they single-handedly stopped a fraud that could have cost that man $30,000.

The staff of The UPS Store in AbileneÕs River Oaks Shopping Center Dec. 28. Pictured is Tracey LeMaster (left), Julie Guevara, store manager Lisa Jackson, Andreana Polk and Evonne Delapaz.
The staff of The UPS Store in AbileneÕs River Oaks Shopping Center Dec. 28. Pictured is Tracey LeMaster (left), Julie Guevara, store manager Lisa Jackson, Andreana Polk and Evonne Delapaz.

'Red flags'

An elderly man came into The UPS Store on 14th Street in Abilene just prior to Christmas. He wanted to ship a pair of shoes, but in an odd turn, he wanted them shipped next-day air. Additionally, the elderly gentleman appeared very confused throughout the process.

Lisa Jackson saw warning signs immediately after that elderly man left the UPS Store. Her employees had told her that the elderly man seemed as though he wasn't fully cognizant. He was also shipping an old pair of shoes via next-day air, which is an immediate red flag for UPS Store employees.

Jackson immediately called the Abilene Police Department Fraud Division to report her suspicions. When detectives arrived, they opened the package and found multiple rolls of cash stuffed into the pair of shoes. The cash totaled $30,000.

Not the first time

According to the owner of The UPS Store, Kelly Beuschel, her employees have stopped several elderly fraud schemes in the past. They have seen instances where an elderly person will ship either a magazine or a book via next-day air and will find that the book is stuffed with bills, and that that person has been the victim of a fraud scheme.

The key tip-off is shipping via next-day air. Usually, she said, the elderly victims have been coached to say specific things, and to always ship via next-day air.

Beuschel credits their relationship with the Abilene Police Department Fraud Division as the key to preventing scams of the elderly of Abilene. In some cases, the elderly victims will not believe the younger UPS Store employees. Instead, she finds that the elderly trust the uniformed officer when they explain that to the elderly citizens that they have been a victim of fraud.

It is this close working relationship that has allowed the UPS Store and the fraud division to stop several fraud scams of Abilene's elderly population. This instance, however, has been the largest fraud that the UPS Store has ever seen or prevented.

It stands as a stark warning to those with elderly loved ones. If you miss the warning signs, however, the UPS Store employees have definitely got your back.

Fraud division's response

Unfortunately, this is all too common here in Abilene. Detective Carye Adkins of the Abilene Police Department's Fraud Division noted that the elderly man had thought he had won the lottery in New York and needed to pay taxes before collecting his winnings.

This story is one of many in the recent uptick of elderly fraud and scams. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2022 alone, total monetary losses related to scams reported by the elderly increased by 84% from 2021.

Unfortunately, it is not just mail-in schemes that target the elderly in Abilene. From the handyman who requires a large advance up front to the online romance that requires cash to continue, the elderly of Abilene have fallen prey to various schemes that keep the Fraud Division busy every day of the week.

In an effort to prevent scams of the older people, the Fraud Division and Abilene Reporter News have compiled a list of tips to protect your loved ones. The Abilene Police Department also has helpful brochures at their office located at 4565 S 1st Street, if you would like more information on preventing fraud.

Tips to avoid scams and fraud

  • Check on your loved ones frequently, especially if they are advanced in years.

  • If it is too good to be true, it usually is.

  • Do not mail cash or gift cards to someone you don't personally know.

  • Do not answer phone calls from numbers you do not recognize.

  • Remember that no law enforcement agency will require payment via gift cards, cashier checks, or cash through the mail.

  • If your loved one calls from a new number and requests money, hang up. Verify the story by calling your family member directly using the phone number you know.

  • Never give out your credit card numbers over the phone.

  • When in doubt, call the Abilene Police Department's non-emergency number, (325)-673-8331, if you think you or your loved ones have been the target of a scam.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene UPS store employees stop $30,000 fraud just prior to Christmas