Maine Business Loses Thousands to Bank Scam

Amy Kelly, the owner of TaleSpin Studio in Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, is warning everyone after falling victim to a scam that cost her thousands of dollars, according to WGME.

The news station reported that she received a call earlier this month from someone saying they were from the Bank of America alerting her to suspicious charges on her account and convincing her to share her phone screen to complete a wire transfer to “protect” her funds.

In the moment of panic and confusion, Kelly did what the person asked, followed the instructions only to realize later that it was a scam, WGME stated.

Kelly told the news station:

“All of a sudden, I watched the money disappear from my account,”

READ MORE: LOOK: You Won't Believe How Easy it is to Be Scammed in Maine

According to WGME, the money was part of a Small Business Administration disaster loan and meant to help repair and upgrade her studio building after it was damaged in a storm back in January.

Unfortunately, after reporting the incident to law enforcement and her bank, Kelly was told there really wasn't anything they could do

This happens more and more because the scammers are getting very convincing.

You can view the video below from CBS 13 News with Kelly.

Scams like these scams are very common in Maine and getting even more worrisome. As per the report, there are now over 1,300 reported cases this year alone.

Kelly now is in hopes that her awful experience can help others avoid falling into similar traps.

Her advice is to be cautious with unexpected calls or messages. Make sure to always double-check with your bank before taking any action and never let anyone take over your screen.

For more tips on how to avoid scams, click here.