Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner was scammed out of $240,000 in a bank fraud scheme, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported Tuesday. Turner reportedly wired the money — two $120,000 transfers — to scammers who were impersonating JP Morgan Chase Bank representatives.
Sgt. Rich Evans of the Eagan (Minnesota) Police Department said they have identified “several suspects,” via an investigation. Less than $2,500 of the stolen money has been recovered.
According to a search warrant affidavit filed in Dakota County (Minnesota) District Court, Turner received a call on Feb. 19 “from an individual impersonating a JP Morgan Chase banker. The caller claimed someone was attempting to impersonate [Turner] at a Chase Bank branch in Arizona,” Paul Walsh of the Star Tribune wrote.
The caller told Turner he should transfer his money to a pair of separate business accounts to prevent the person from fraudulently withdrawing money. Turner went to two different Chase branches, where he transferred the money into the fraudulent business accounts. Turner later began to suspect he was the victim of a scam while talking to a relative about the situation.
Turner, 22, is entering his second season in the NFL. The Vikings selected the former Alabama standout in the first round (No. 17) overall in last year’s NFL Draft. Turner spent his rookie season in a backup role behind Andrew Van Ginkel.
Turner flashed at times, tallying 3.0 sacks, 20 tackles (12 solo), three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and one interception in 300 defensive snaps. He recorded 12 pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is encouraged by Turner’s growth this offseason.
“Nobody talks about that rookie season where you’re in college and then you’re training and then it’s, you know, combine and then it’s the draft and then you jump right in and, you know, new everything. New house, new ride to work, new everything,” Flores said last month, via Vikings.com. “So, he’s much more comfortable, I would say, in this environment. He knows what the expectations are. He’s got a high standard for himself, and that’s a great place to start.
“But he also knows he’s got to work a significant amount to get to that standard. I think all of our guys do. And he’s come in and really gotten into a routine that, I think, is going to allow him to put his best foot forward and put himself in position to have the type of season that he wants to have and the type of season we want him to have. So, [it’s] all positive with him.”
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