A Rome coffee shop is out $1,500 after falling victim to a sophisticated phone scam. According to a report from the Rome Police Department, an employee at Lumina Coffee on Braves Boulevard was contacted by a man claiming to be a lieutenant with the Rome Police Department. The caller falsely stated that Lumina Coffee had counterfeit money circulating within its cash stock. He instructed the employee to send the “counterfeit” money to him via a pay service at a nearby drugstore, promising to replace it with legitimate currency. Following the caller’s instructions, the employee made three separate transactions of $500 each, sending a total of $1,500 to the scammer. Unfortunately, all three transactions were non-refundable. The Rome Police Department is investigating the incident and reminds businesses to be wary of unsolicited phone calls requesting money transfers. They urge businesses to verify the identity of callers claiming to be law enforcement or government officials before taking any action. Anyone with information about this scam is encouraged to contact the Rome Police Department.
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