This 82-year-old Orange County senior claims ‘wallet scam’ cost her $11,000 in cash — says she has trouble sleeping to this day. Here’s how the scheme ‘takes advantage’ of the unsuspecting

A scary and disturbing encounter

Brown was going about her business when two men approached her in a Home Depot parking lot with a wallet full of cash they claimed to have found nearby. She had just loaded her trunk with mulch.

Brown, along with the two men, took a look inside the wallet.

“He opened just a little bit. He said, ‘Oh my God, this is $62,000,'" Brown told Action 9.

She suggested they turn the wallet in at Home Depot, but the men convinced her they should “divvy up” the money instead, claiming that it would just go to the local sheriff’s office and get held for 90 days only to never be seen again.

"That's when they got in my car," Brown said.

The three drove away from the Home Depot to get away from prying eyes. Then, the men convinced Brown they each needed to add money to the pot so they could split it evenly.

Brown's bank was just up the road, and she wound up withdrawing $11,000 from Truist Bank in cash.

At the time, Brown didn't feel scared. She had no problem handing over her newly withdrawn cash or the rings off her fingers. The men left and promised to be right back to split the money.

"I never seen them again," she said.

Brown believes she must have been drugged for all of these events to have taken place, describing it as an "out-of-body experience." She says there's no other explanation as to why she would've let the strangers into her car and given them all of that cash and jewelry.

“I want everybody to know that these people are out there, and they’re taking advantage of it,” she told Action 9.

Brown immediately felt foolish in the aftermath of what had happened.

"When I came home, I didn't want to tell my daughter," Brown told Action 9. "I felt so stupid."

Eventually, she did end up telling her daughter what had happened, and she opted to share her story publicly to prevent others from falling victim to similar crimes.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Economics Crime Unit is now investigating the case. They say it's still early in the investigation but they will do everything they can to try to bring Brown justice.

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How criminals exploit people

It's unclear as to whether the scammers who took advantage of Brown actually did drug her, and if so, how. But one thing appears certain — they used tactics similar to that of “social engineering” to lure her in.

Social engineering is commonly associated with cyber scams, but similar strategies can take place in person, too. Some sort of hook is required to gain a person's trust, and then that trust is used to steal sensitive information or, in Brown's case, money.

In Brown's situation, the scammers approached her on the basis of wanting to share a windfall due to her being in the right place at the right time.

Another form of social engineering might be for someone to approach a person like Brown inside a store, ask for advice on what to buy, whine about not having enough money and convince the victim to drive to the nearest ATM to withdraw cash for them.

The reason social engineering works so well is that humans have a tendency to be trusting and curious at the same time. That's why someone who receives a phone call from an unknown number may be inclined to pick it up rather than ignore it. It also explains why people click on suspicious links all the time in texts and emails.

SecureFrame says that a typical social engineering attack has four phases. First, the criminal gathers information on a target. Next, they make contact and gain the victim's trust. After that, they convince the victim to either share sensitive information or perform a specific action, like withdrawing money from a bank account.

Finally, they break contact without raising suspicions, at least not initially.

In Brown's case, for example, the criminals promised to come right back with her share of the money. They never did.

Clearly, similar methods are often behind in-person scams as well.

Red flags to look out for

Since older Americans can be just as vulnerable to in-person scams as they are to online schemes, it’s important to know what red flags to look out for in both scenarios.

First, never respond to an unsolicited email, phone call or text message. And never reveal sensitive information such as your Social Security number, bank account details or passwords.

To avoid a situation like what happened to Brown, make a point of not engaging in conversations with strangers unless you're in the middle of a crowded area, like a supermarket, where there are cameras and lots of people you can turn to for help.

Not every stranger who asks you a random question or shares an anecdote is a criminal. But if you’re approached by strangers in an isolated area or empty parking lot and feel uncomfortable, don’t engage.

If you're approached by strangers, tell them to back away loudly and reach for your phone so they get the message (or actually call the police if you feel threatened).

Finally, if you have an older loved one you care about, warn them that both online and in-person scams are on the rise. Try to offer tips like the ones above on how to avoid becoming a victim.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that, in 2024, 18% of fraud reports were made by victims between the ages of 60 and 69 — the highest percentage of all age groups.

People in their 20s, by contrast, only made up 13% of fraud reports. So, it’s important to educate the older adults in your life on the dangers that lurk— and how to respond to urgent requests from strangers.