A Caller Posed as Webster Bank’s Fraud Manager. One Business Lost $50,000

August 8, 2026 - 01:35

A West Hartford business lost $50,000 after receiving a phone call from someone pretending to be a fraud manager at Webster Bank. The caller was not working for the bank. Instead, it was a scammer using a spoofed phone number to make the call look legitimate.

The business owner received a call from a person who claimed there was suspicious activity on the company account. The caller instructed the owner to move funds to a new account to protect the money. The owner followed the instructions, believing they were speaking with a bank employee. The money was transferred, and the scammer quickly withdrew the funds.

Local police are investigating the incident. They have warned other businesses to be careful when receiving unsolicited calls about account issues. Banks will never ask customers to move money to a different account over the phone. If a caller pressures you to act quickly, hang up and call the bank directly using the number on the back of your card.

The business is working with the bank and law enforcement to recover the funds. However, recovering money in these cases is difficult, especially if the transfer was made to an external account. The police urge anyone who receives a similar call to report it immediately. They also suggest businesses train their staff to recognize common phone scams. This case serves as a reminder that even official-looking calls can be fake. Always verify the identity of the caller before taking any action.