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It started with a phone call.
The caller ID said Rockville Police Department. A retired therapist named Judith Boivin, 80, answered. A man claiming to be an FBI agent told her that her Social Security number had been used by a Mexican drug cartel to open fraudulent bank accounts. Unless she cooperated, he said, she could be charged as part of the case. “Would you be willing to be an asset?” he asked. She agreed.
He gave her a case number and explained that because her accounts were now “compromised,” she needed to move her savings into a federal safety locker until the investigation was over. A follow-up email arrived, complete with official-looking seals, legal language, and a locker number.
He warned that her retirement account at Morgan Stanley was unsafe and instructed her to withdraw everything — nearly $600,000 — and transfer it into several local banks in Maryland so the government could “protect” it.
Following his instructions, she divided the funds among four new checking accounts at local branches of Capital One, Chase, PNC, and TD Bank. He coached her on what to say if bankers asked questions: she was remodeling an Airbnb property in Tennessee. To make the story believable, he even sent fake invoices from a company called Bradley Handyman Pro for roofing and flooring work, telling her to show them to bank staff if needed.
Over the next several weeks, Judith made withdrawal after withdrawal — $10,000 to $20,000 at a time. When questioned by bank officials, she repeated the Airbnb remodel story and showed the forged invoices.
After each withdrawal, her handler directed her to meet couriers at a nearby shopping center. She would drive up, hand over the cash through an open car window, then return to her car and wait for confirmation that it was safe to leave. He assured her that FBI surveillance teams were watching and that she was protected. She also mailed cashier’s checks to a man in Georgia and a woman in California, both supposedly helping with the investigation.
By the time she realized what had happened, it was too late. Nearly $595,000 — her life’s savings — had vanished into the hands of criminals overseas.
Based on reporting from The Washington Post.
Lessons Learned
The goal of this newsletter is to expose the playbook scammers use — so when they try it on you, you’ll recognize it in real time. Judith’s story shows how even smart, capable people can get pulled in when fear, authority, and secrecy are used in just the right combination.
Never move your money. Never move your money from one bank to another, from one account to another, or from a bank to crypto. If anyone tells you to “secure” your funds or move them “for safety,” it’s a scam. Stop immediately and call someone you trust — or contact the police.
Call them back — the right way. If someone claims to be from law enforcement or a government agency, get their name and hang up. Then call the main public phone number of that agency and ask to speak with that person. Never trust numbers provided in an email, text, or call.
Don’t ever keep secrets. Scammers will swear you to secrecy — saying you can’t tell your spouse, your family, or your bank because it’ll “compromise the investigation.” No real agency will ever ask that. You’re not living in a spy movie. The moment someone tells you to hide what’s happening, that’s your cue to stop.
Don’t ever trust caller ID. Caller IDs can be faked, names can be stolen, and email signatures can be forged. No legitimate law enforcement officer will ever call you out of the blue and ask for money, crypto, or gift cards. Hang up, breathe, and verify it yourself.
Don’t follow instructions under pressure. Scammers use fear and urgency to make you act fast — “your account’s frozen,” “your identity’s stolen,” “this is your final warning.” Real institutions don’t operate on countdowns. The moment you feel rushed, slow down.
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