Police were called to a local bank after employees suspected a customer was attempting to cash fraudulent checks. When officers arrived, they found a homeless woman who claimed she had received the checks in the mail and believed they were legitimate. This is the body camera footage that follows from that incident. >> How you doing? >> How you doing? >> He's here. >> Thank you. Hey, >> how you doing? >> Hey, >> you have your ID with you about you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> What's going on? I don't know cuz I got time cuz I don't know what been going to happen, but >> Okay. >> It I hope I ain't going there. >> I hear you. I hear you. Well, we're going to figure that out. What are you doing here today? >> No, I got a check got mailed to me and I just come here and deposit in my account. >> Okay. You got an account here? You just mail it. Deposit. Okay. Okay. I got you have your ID with you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I appreciate it. >> You have that check. >> Oh, both on you. >> That's fine. Five central. I got a uh old Oh, she's >> Oh, okay. That's fine. Yeah. >> So, what was >> Go ahead. First one is for like $4258 $85 as well. >> Um finally got call back from the first check cuz the person wasn't there in office. She couldn't check it. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah, they're here. >> Hey Will. >> Yes, >> Brandy should be on her way. She's coming. Yeah. [Music] >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> So, I was >> Yeah. Yeah. She sent a text, >> but I was on the phone with them trying to >> Yeah. So, she came did the first deposit. When we called, they tried to get her lady said, "Hey, the person's inside our office right now. I call you back." and did a deposit but didn't put the whole number. She called us back with and told us she couldn't verify it because she couldn't see her name in her office system. But that didn't mean she didn't go through this company to get a check because the original >> Thank you. >> Oh, that's Miss Baker. Lord, hey, she's going to go that side for me. She'll get you over there. Yes. So, I called Yeah. The girl said she couldn't verify that number, but she said just because she couldn't verify it does not mean it's not a check that was written off of them. >> Okay. >> She just couldn't verify that check number and that name. >> Okay. >> She said this check it was not name, but she couldn't disclose the name that it was on it. >> Okay. >> But she did confirm with me. >> Okay. Yeah. And it was their home office in Chicago. >> Okay. >> So, it's actually the the exact number on the chat called [Music] >> she came in yesterday to open the account and she came in as a house. >> Yeah. That was the main thing she wanted to sell. She wanted to make sure she would be able to sell. >> Yeah. She couldn't download. >> Gotcha. >> When did that check clear? Sorry. >> Officers begin speaking with the woman to gather more information about the fraudulent checks. As the investigation continues, her story begins to change. Small details at first, then larger inconsistencies. Despite that, she maintains that it all began with a text message from someone she had never met. >> What's going on? >> No, it did. I It received a check in the mail and then I'm the I did the >> You want to have a seat? >> Yeah. >> Okay. What happened? You said it came out your mailbox. >> Yeah, it came in the post office. Nobody received my mail at downtown. And then I think, you know, this serious. >> What um deposit box is it? >> Oh, what's your number? Yeah. >> The post office. Yeah. No, it didn't deliver 306. 306 3 or something like that. >> Okay. I got you. >> Yeah. >> So, it came out your deposit. >> So, it was it was yours, right? >> Yeah. I mean, my mail, but somebody sent it to me. I didn't know it was >> Yeah, I got you. >> You still got the envelope that came in? >> No. Uh, I took it out. It was I just I was just thinking, you know, something in there for me, I can just go ahead and deposit it. I got you. >> Do you often get checks in the mail? >> Not really. Not from, you know, not really. >> I just thought it was, you know, legit, you know. >> Did it say was >> it said the guy that done it to me, his name was Ben. >> His name was Vincent. >> Do you know Vincent? I mean, no, I don't know. But >> do you have any more mail or any more checks? >> No. >> It's the first time you receive a check from this person. >> Is it a business or person? >> He got um >> Wait a minute. >> Are you texting Vincent now? >> Yeah, cuz I'm Cuz he signed to me. >> I ain't got no more them. the only one who come to me. But I don't want to go to jail over there cuz I ain't did nothing cuz I just thought like a personal express professional wrote on profession. >> You know Vincent? >> Yeah, I got his number. Well, you let me put y'all up on him. >> Y'all don't get on with him. >> Sure. >> Sure. You can call him. >> Did he say why he sending you a check? >> Like do you know him though? >> You know him or not? He just >> I've been talking to him. He just a friend but still I don't want to go to jail over there. bleed on Red M. I ain't do nothing wrong. >> That's not That's not working or it's saying somebody return now. See, >> I don't want to go to jail over there. Please don't take me to jail. I I ain't even know >> cuz I ain't even know. I didn't even know >> what's his name. Vince. What's his >> I don't know his I don't know his last name. He sent it off. He sent me a text. >> He sent me a text saying >> that's the text. >> He sent me a text saying he can you know he sent me a text saying >> Yeah. So they called on this one. So this one cleared in June. >> This one they couldn't get a confirmation verify. How did he get your number to send you a text? >> No, he didn't call me. He called me >> was on the phone. Was only interested in selling money. So >> So he called you, sent you a text and then >> Yeah. Do you say like he can give me money, you know, stuff like that? I couldn't have failed for it. He said he can he said he can help me out. >> What What's your address? They sent the text. >> It was uh >> see thing about the address they sent me on B with M. I had been over there >> because the mail the mail at 806 goes to the post office. Some of it does. >> Who where you borrow from? The post that 806. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, what's your mailbox number? >> No, it ain't no mail. It's general delivery 30603. >> Okay. >> That that downtown by Hancock. >> Is this his first time sending you a check? >> No, he I mean he he him did he sent me a He sent me those three. Have you ever worked for express before? >> No, I I work for you know express on temp service. You going to get those checks if you work for temp first. So why would Vince be sending you those type of checks? >> I don't know. Please don't take me to jail. I haven't >> Trying to figure out what's going on cuz I I work for Express before and those are the checks that you get. You only get those if you work there. People don't >> her name. >> I don't know what's going on. I I >> I don't know. You don't have the envelopes on either one of them that he sent them to you. >> No, cuz the thing about it was cuz I threw them away cuz I'm thinking like, oh, oh, this a check. I can, you know, >> why would somebody send you a check if you haven't told you send you a check? >> I don't know. He think he think he going to help me out? >> I would be able to tell. >> I don't know. You can always look in the back. >> He told me he was like uh uh >> he was like he like he said like I can help you and stuff like that. I think >> like if they can help me get funds, help me with money. >> Micro micro print is usually on the edges, which I don't see that anywhere. >> Oh, just uh some of the security pictures I was talking about on the back. It wouldn't tell whether these are just >> forgeries or ones that someone took and watched and never really first played back. >> Now see, look, he told me he told me to buy check paper. >> Mhm. >> He told me to buy check paper. >> But do you think that sign right there? >> No. >> He told you to buy the check paper? >> Yeah. >> What's the text you supposed to been showing me? >> What? What it supposed to like? No. Here. See right here? Okay, >> come back over here. Let's sit down. [Music] >> Hey, can we see your bag? Do you have any more checks with you? >> No, I don't. >> You got some envelopes sticking out the front. Can we see what those are? >> You talking about these? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, in the front. Somebody >> Mhm. No, this from social security. This different from social security. See, >> no more envelopes. >> No, no more envelopes. >> No more mail that you got out of general mail. >> No, this from social security. >> Look, I don't know. I don't want to go to jail. We don't take I didn't know. >> We need you to be truthful. >> No, cuz I'm telling you cuz he he told he told me he could help me with money and I I'm homeless. >> Going to help you. They're going to send you a personal check. >> But look though, I'm seeing But look though, I'm homeless. I don't have nowhere to go. I stay in, you know, I stay in a tent. >> You don't understand. So, what was going to happen after you deposit the checks? >> What say? >> What was going to happen after you deposited the checks? >> I don't know. Cuz they ain't re I say to you, >> but but you came in here expecting to be able to deposit them. Correct. >> Cuz I want to get me an apartment. I just want to get me an apartment. >> What are you going to use the money for? >> Yeah, for my apartment. >> So, he was sending you free money. >> Yeah. He said he could help me. >> Okay. He didn't expect any money in return. No, he ain't got nothing in return. >> No type of exchange for nothing. >> No, he was just saying went to you just saying this. He said last time. Do you know? >> I don't know his last name. >> Do you mind if we look through your text just to see what type of conversations y'all's been having? It's You can unlock your phone and do you give me permission to look at them text? >> He told He told me to get him. >> So answer a question before. He told he told me get target gift card and do something with him like get like he gave me money >> you met in person or >> No on phone he go get target gift card and send him like the for something. >> Yeah but he was sending me the money. He was giving me money then he told me to return it back to him but he >> So this is Yeah. So you were to deposit this checks and then go buy gift cards and then send him part of the gift card money. No, he gave me he he told me do what he told me. He told me once I probably check he going to give me some money so try to get my apartment. >> Okay. >> So you going to deposit those in your new account >> and then get a gift card? >> No, I want he told he told >> come >> because he been cuz today this second time I've been over here. >> Just slow down a little bit cuz you spitting all >> this second time I've been over here. This second time I've been out here cuz he told me depart the check and he said he gonna give me he gonna deposit he said like a loan company like he say gonna depart the loan up to $5,000 gift >> you give him your account number your new account you gave him that information >> no I had gave him that information I had gave it to him I had gave it to him >> you try to cash a check yesterday when you open the account you didn't try to cash a check yesterday >> yes >> you just came and open the account >> yeah I just can't open the account and then like I had I had some I had some cash with me. I I open with $50. >> So, this is not the first transaction you and Vince have had. >> Yeah. >> Did multiple transactions look like? >> So, y'all only talk and text, not talk on the phone. >> Yeah, we talk on the phone, but Yeah, he he text then we talk on the phone. >> So, the last message he said was, "You need to run away." >> Yeah. >> So, you think that's right? If he tell you to run away from us. >> He look he he's somewhere and I'm radio. >> Yeah. So you got to deal with us and he's somewhere not here. >> How did you get here? >> How did I get here on the bus? What's the number? >> Look, I don't know what been Please don't take me to jail. Please do not take me to jail. I don't want to go through this. I'm trying to stay out of jail for real. >> I do not want to go to jail. I've been I've been getting since I' been locked up. I'm trying to tame my weight that you bought. You still got it with you? >> Yeah. >> Let's see that. >> So, she been getting gift cards, sending it to him. She get a fraction of it. She told him the cops were here. He told her to >> today >> just now when we just walked up. >> See, I bought it from Office Depot. Have you ever had any issues with cashing any of these other checks? I mean, girl in Bank of America. Okay, get this. I had an account with Bank of America, right? >> He sent he sent some uh he sent me some check, right? >> Mhm. >> The tech got returned. All of them did. They roll my bank account. So, this is my question. Have y'all ever met in person? >> No. In person. So, let's paint this picture. Okay. We're going to paint a picture and you tell me how this sounds. You texting somebody you don't know, you never met in person. In a text message, you asking him to send you $7,000, $2,000. Do you think that's legal money being transferred back and forth between y'all? If you never met this person, you don't know his last name. Like, you don't But look though, please don't take me to jail. I'm trying. >> I'm asking you a question though. Dude, did you think that was okay? Did you need? >> No, I mean I thought it was I thought it was a legit t. I didn't need it. >> $7,000 for somebody you don't know that you never met in person. >> I didn't need it. >> I'm not sure. Do you need That's a lot of money. >> Yeah, cuz cuz I have a $7,000 check you want every second. >> Did you get it? Did you get the $7? >> No, I ain't getting no $7,000. >> No, but look though, I don't want to go to jail cuz I'm trying to change. >> You keep saying that, but we we we running that circle. We not getting you. I try to call him cuz he leaving you by yourself to deal with this. You see what I'm saying? >> You never ran into any issue with cashing his checks at any of these banks. >> No. Yeah. Okay. At Bank of America has account at Bank of America. They return them. He stunt me. >> Kroger's been cashing them for you. >> No. Kroger ain't cash no check though. No. >> Who's been cashing a check for you? >> No. They ain't They ain't been they been cash. He been putting money in my account. >> You asking him for 10,000 money to be sending somebody that you don't know. >> How did you meet him? No, he he sent me a text. >> How did you meet him? >> No, I I never met him. I never met him. >> How did you How did y'all start texting back and forth? >> Because he sent me a text on my saying like, "If you need any help, I can be glad to help you." Then you got and it was a 1-800 number. It was a 18 like a 18 like a 18. >> So I'm thinking this a real number and I'm saying he calling him. >> So how much money out of that will you do you send him? >> No, he'll ask what he'll say. He'll say once you get the money on he say he'll say he'll put no right here I ain't ever get no money from them check cuz he will put money in my account and say send me two two Target cards for 240 or 250 something like that. You know what I'm talking about? >> So the money will be deposited in your account and you would have to >> car in my account it going to him? I ain't getting there. I ain't getting there. >> So you doing all this work not to get no cut of it? But I'm saying he promising me. >> What bank account do you currently have right now? >> This one been able to get no other account. >> No. >> So, have you ever had a successful transaction between >> No, cuz the thing about is the with Bank of America, they you know, they they rejected the check and now the account right here going to be closed. I know it is. >> Did you cash this one? >> No, this one cash. >> This is three on here. Did you cash one of these? >> No, they they hand cash. >> Okay. So he just send you the picture and then tells you. >> Yeah, >> they had been cash. >> The check and the these I got three check but none of them have been cash cuz >> Yeah. So where the third one at though cuz that's two right there. That's >> a picture of three checks. >> Yeah. So where's the last one at? >> I deposit into the ATM. >> So here. >> Yeah. >> So you got cash? >> No, I ain't getting no cash. You got a receipt for the >> Yeah. >> So, the money should still be in your account. >> I ain't got no money in my account. >> You deposited, right? So, it's >> they put a hold on it. >> Yeah. See, look. See? Then what I they deposit the third one. >> So, that one went through, but you >> didn't go through. They got a hold on my account. I called I called Pinnacle Bank. They said I got to wait till the 27th. They said they got to see the check. >> I got you. >> So, I ain't get no money at all. I ain't got no man for nothing to do. I >> asking him for help. Did it ever occur to you that maybe this I need to just stop? >> Yeah. >> You realize you won't get no money out of y'all been going since the beginning of August. Like you ain't got no money out the deal. >> Cuz look, he said, "Oh, just get two Target gift card for 240 and I and I and I deposit the money." They playing like a fool. I ain't got no >> He probably not going to answer cuz we know >> Let me Let me try to call them. [Music] >> But you see how suspicious that look? You text and tell them it was there. That mean you knew you was doing something wrong. >> You see what I'm saying? >> No, but I thought See, I'm thinking the checks are real. >> She She did say, "I hope these checks are real." And sometime you got to just use common sense. I'm just being blunt with you cuz this you've been sending her money and sending him money. You ain't got nothing out of nothing. Not a dime. >> No. Good thing about running after getting this paper for him. You had to pay for the paper too. >> Yeah. Look look. Okay. Like look. Okay. when I said when I sat here and gave him, you know, got your card and then when I sat here and called him back, he like, "I'm going to deposit 5,000 in your account." And I said, I said, "Look," I said, "Don't play the game with me." I said, "I need help. My situation I'm in." I said, "Why you playing the game with me?" >> You now kind of afraid of that. [Music] It was a 13. [Music] >> It's not in there. [Music] >> So the money didn't clearly set. >> No, cuz I ain't got no money. I don't have I ain't got no money out there. I did the data card. >> I mean, I have nothing right now. >> Hey, let me read you this real quick. Okay. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer. You cannot afford to hire a lawyer. One will be appointed to represent you for any question if you wish. Even if you don't want a lawyer now, you can agree to talk with us. You can at any time change your mind, ask a lawyer, or stop talking with us. Do you understand each of these rights I've explained to you? Do you understand right? >> Yeah. Where wrong? What have I done? No. What have I done? I didn't know. Listen. >> No. What have I done? You tell me. >> Listen to me. >> Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us now? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> What have I done? >> So that's what we're trying to figure out. Exactly. >> No. Well, I ain't got no money. I >> True. Because your transaction is history at Target. >> I know that because they just confirmed it. So >> No, that was the money he put in my account on the card. He put money on my card. What did you go to Target for? >> To get the gift cards. >> Okay. So, >> he put the money in my account. >> He got He put the money in my account and got that how I got the gift card. I I ain't got no money. >> You get the gift cards with that 493. >> No, not with that. >> What other money did he send you? >> I see the thing. He got my He got my banking information from here. He got my bank information and then he told me he going to put he put the money in my account and then he told me to go to Target and get the gift card. Let's put money into this new account. >> Yeah, he put money in there. >> Did you give him your account information? >> I don't know how he got it. I don't know how he got it. >> But that's the only way you can get it if you get to know. >> I mean, so who's the gentleman that was parked over here in the white truck? >> What white truck? I don't know. No gun. I don't know. Nothing about that. >> You came on the bus? >> Yeah, I came on the bed. I don't know. >> How long did you wait outside before he came in? >> Who the white truck? I don't KNOW ABOUT NO WHITE TRUCK. OKAY. SO, let me forget about that for a moment. You said you came on the bus. >> Yeah. >> Just to come here and do this. >> Yeah. >> What time was that? >> About what? Okay. Now, I'm going on about what 20 or 30 minutes ago. I got I caught the 2:15 bus. I caught the 2:15 bus. I got here at like what? About 2:30 cuz I could have both running late cuz they had to switch drivers on the bus and they had to do that. [Music] So, >> but the money the money with the gift card, he put that in my account. >> He put that in my account. He said you had he said this. He said you have $500 in your account right now. He said, "Go get gift card for 240 each." >> Okay. >> And that's what I did. >> It was No, it wasn't because the check I didn't use the check to get that money. I didn't use the check. So, why am I trying to be arrested for something the money I did not have? Why you arresting me? >> I haven't arrested you yet. But why you trying to though? >> I'm trying to figure out exactly the circumstances that took place today and why you're here with checks that are >> Look, I'm saying this. I'm not with these check they had. These are check he just sent me. >> Okay. >> Why is the check paper the same as that paper? >> Because he told me to get this paper. He told go to Office Depot and get the paper. I paid for it. >> Why? >> Cuz he said he was going to give me some money. I was just think I'm But look, you understand my situation. I'm homeless. I'm homeless. >> Right. Right. Do you have Do you have a printer? >> No, I don't have no printer. >> Does he have a printer? >> He probably do. >> He don't. >> So then what good does that paper do you? >> You would have had to meet him at some point to give him that paper. Correct. >> No. No. You got it all wrong. I bought the paper from Office Depot and I told him I bought the paper. Then he told me when I went when I bought the paper, I called him. I said, "I got the paper." He said, "Which one did you get?" I said, "I got this He said he had picture of the paper check refill. He had all different kind of different kind of check paper. >> Yeah. >> I said I got the first one, the one at the top. >> Okay. >> He said all right. He said I'm going to email you a check. Look look on my phone. Look what he emailed me a check. I'mma tell you. >> Okay. >> Okay. Look this way. He mailed me a check. >> Green card finance. Look. Look. I'mma show you. Look, >> I'm looking for closer. >> Look. Look. >> Yeah. >> So, what we're going >> He emailed me the check and he said, "Print at the UPS store. >> I print at the UPS store." >> To print these checks on that paper at the UPS store. >> Yeah. I just got the check. He said, "Print at the UPS store." I went to the UPS store today. >> And you printed it off at UPS store? >> Yeah. And I ain't got nothing. I ain't got no I didn't get no money cuz I ain't get no money. >> So So he didn't send you checks. >> No, he didn't check. He put money in my account. He put money in my account and said go get the Target gift card. That's what he said. >> Yeah, he he sent you checks that you had to go print off on paper. That doesn't work that way. >> No, look. No. When I print the check No, listen. When I print the check, he said, "Go deposit at the bank." And I But look, and then he said, "Dad, what he told me when I got here, he said, "Print the check and then I'll give you your money." >> So, I have a question. Have you ever had a job before? >> Yeah, I had a job before. I I I've been working ever since I was 15. It a job I had didn't work out. They weren't paying me or nothing. >> Okay. Previously, with your experience in your previous jobs, how did you receive your payment? >> By working. I'm saying like how did they pay you? How did you get paid? >> Oh, direct deposit and sometime with check. >> Okay. So, that's what I'm saying. With your old jobs, did you ever have to do all this to get paid? >> No. >> So, that's what I'm saying. Like, >> look see here. See, he see he put he got my account information here. I didn't check out. >> Can Can we be honest? How did he get your account information? >> You had I don't know if I gave him I look >> we being honest now. No, listen. >> Okay. >> I sent him some paper from Pinnacle Bank. Maybe had my account information on it. I went through I did send it to him. >> So you knowing that he had your account information, you didn't want to file and say, "Hey, my account has been compromised." Like it didn't phase you that somebody has your account information. >> I didn't know cuz look cuz he put the money in my account. >> That's what I'm saying. You had to know for him to be able to put that money in your account. You see what I'm saying? >> No, I didn't put no money in my account. He did. Why you this [ __ ] here trying to make it seem like I'm the one doing it. >> No, I'm trying to break it down to you. >> No, I'm trying to break it down to you. >> Okay, go ahead. >> No, I'm trying to break it down to you. >> Okay. >> I didn't get no I didn't get no damn money. I didn't get no money. >> Okay. >> He tell here and put the money in my account. Then you told me to go get the Target gift card. >> I got you. >> I didn't get no money out of that. The check hadn't even been C. Had even went through. So why why you up here talking about trying to make it seem like I did something wrong? >> You did. Plain and simple. You did >> what? I ain't even getting no money. >> That's unfortunate. That's how it works sometimes because you were here trying to deposit fall checks. [Music] >> I didn't know them were frozen. I didn't know cuz look, he sent me the email, son. He sent me that email. I didn't know. I didn't I didn't do this. This ain't right. This is not right. I didn't know. I thought it was a real check. >> We're still inside the bank. >> No, I thought it was a real check because I'm sitting here hungry and I'm trying to stay out of trouble. >> Oh my god. [Music] >> Oh my god. >> Do a video. >> They out of trouble. I don't WANT TO GO BACK THERE. ALL I No, look. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. You don't understand. I'VE BEEN LOCKED UP BEFORE. I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE. I'M TRYING TO BETTER MYSELF. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to BETTER I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. >> Keep it down. >> After being placed under arrest, the woman was transported to the county jail. She was charged with fourthderee forgery and deposit account fraud related to bad checks. The forgery charge was later dismissed while she entered a no contest plea to the deposit account fraud charge and was convicted. Thank you for watching. Please like and subscribe for more police body cam footage. See you soon. >> This is [ __ ]