The Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Office and the MBA want to hear from you! We have developed, along with Attorney Nessel’s office, a "Bank Hall of Fame" on our financial exploitation tab on our webpage. This page will showcase banks that have had a role in stopping financial exploitation within their banks. Send your stories to Alyssa Bouchard, Director of Communications and Public Relations, abouchard@mibankers.com.

Bank and Genesee County Law Enforcement Team Approach Protects Grandmother’s Life Savings.

In the very early morning hours, a Genesee County grandmother was called by her “grandson’s attorney” indicating her grandson was in trouble and needed significant money. The next day, the grandmother went to The State Bank in Fenton and withdrew all the money from her account.  She additionally inquired about a home improvement loan.  An alert bank employee notified her security and loss prevention officer who immediately called the Genesee County Sheriff’s Elder Abuse Division.  

Springing into immediate action, Sergeant Jillian Macey and social worker Jennifer Tittsworth responded to the victim’s residence. At first, the grandmother was hesitant to share any information. Skillfully obtaining the name of the grandmother’s son, grandson, and their current residence, this information was shared with Deputy Andrew Graham. Deputy Graham researched the son’s phone number and contacted him to explain the urgent situation.  The victim’s son called his mother and reassured her that her grandson was fine.ble and needed significant money. The next day, the grandmother went to The State Bank in Fenton and withdrew all the money from her account.  She additionally inquired about a home improvement loan.  An alert bank employee notified her security and loss prevention officer who immediately called the Genesee County Sheriff’s Elder Abuse Division.

Overwhelmed with dread, the grandmother shared with law enforcement that she overnighted the package using a UPS store. Law enforcement immediately contacted the store, and the store manager was retrieving the package as law enforcement entered the UPS business. The criminal had coached the victim on what to say to anybody who inquired. Additionally, the cash was in a hardcover book sealed in plastic with packing tape. Multiple groups of cash were placed between the pages.    

The State Bank and this multi-disciplinary law enforcement team has your back in Genesee county!  Genesee County Sheriff Swanson’s Elder Abuse Division number is 810-257-3422.

Alert Troy Bank Teller Saves Grandma’s Money from Scammer
TROY, MI – A very alert bank teller saved a senior citizen from falling for a ‘Grandmother Scam’. That teller saved the funds of $8,900 from disappearing into thin air.

On Wednesday April 14th, 2021, at approximately 11:00 AM, the victim received a phone call from a subject identifying himself as an attorney named Brian Reynolds and he was handling her grandson’s injury case with a bicyclist. The subject told the victim he could make the case go away if she provided him $8,900.

The subject stated he was from the Grand Rapids area even though caller ID identified him calling from Ontario, Canada.

As the victim was at her bank withdrawing the funds, the bank teller asked why she was taking out so much money. When the grandmother told the story, she was advised to contact her grandson to verify if it was true. The grandson told his grandmother that she was being scammed. Because of that teller, no funds were lost.