Dallas Turner, a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings, recently fell victim to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam that resulted in a loss of $240,000. The incident occurred on February 19 when Turner received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a banker from JPMorgan Chase. The caller alleged that someone was attempting to impersonate Turner at a Chase Bank branch in Arizona, presenting two forms of identification to execute a wire transfer.

Believing the caller’s story, Turner was advised to transfer funds to two separate business accounts to prevent the supposed theft. Consequently, he transferred $120,000 each to “Island Food Truck LLC” and “CNL FL LLC.” It was only after consulting with a family member that Turner realized he might have been scammed. This prompted an investigation by local authorities.

Eagan Police Sgt. Rich Evans confirmed that several suspects have been identified and efforts are underway to pursue criminal charges. The police have also requested JPMorgan Chase to conduct an internal investigation to determine if any employees were involved and how the fraudster obtained sensitive information such as Turner’s full name, linked phone numbers, and LLC account details.

Turner, who was the 17th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft from Alabama, had an impressive college career. He was named the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year and played in the national championship game against Georgia during his freshman season. In his rookie NFL season, Turner recorded 20 combined tackles, including eight solo tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception.

This incident highlights the growing threat of sophisticated scams targeting high-profile individuals. It serves as a reminder for everyone to remain vigilant and verify any suspicious communications regarding financial transactions.