Large-Scale Fraud Siphons More Than $1.6 Million From CU Members' Accounts

Credit/Shutterstock.

Last February, a Pennsylvania man allegedly posted a social media video that showed him standing outside of a branch of the $7.1 billion Members 1st Federal Credit Union (MFFCU) with this caption: ONLY TAKING 7 SO IF YOU GOT ACTIVE MEMBERS 1st DM ME FOR GUARANTEED FUNDS. The suspect also posted other social media videos and images on his wall or story to recruit individuals with accounts at the Enola, Pa.-based credit union, Bank of America, Citizens Bank and other financial institutions, according to a criminal complaint that described a large-scale and elaborate fraud scheme that involved 13 persons who stole more than $1.6 million from member accounts.

Two of those persons, Tyreese Lewis, 22, and Carl A. Gonzalez, 19, were arrested and charged in July and August, respectively, with numerous counts of corrupt organizations, identity theft, bank consumer impersonation, access device fraud, computer trespass and related offenses, according to Pennsylvania’s Attorney General office.