Dallas Turner, a young up-and-coming star at the Minnesota Vikings Linebacker position, and the 2024 number one draft pick, became the victim of an elaborate bank fraud that saw the rookie player lose a sizeable fortune of $240,000. The case that is being investigated by the Eagan, Minnesota police officers highlights the increasing level of danger of financial frauds- even among very popular athletes.
How the Scam Unfolded
Police and court records said that on February 19, Turner took a phone call, in which the caller identified himself as a banker working at JPMorgan Chase. The caller said that his identity was being used to open an account with the Chase branch in Arizona with the intention of impersonating Turner in a supposedly required wire transfer, in which he presented two pieces of identification. In order to secure his money, Turner was also told to transfer his money into two different business accounts, which he did instantly.
Acting in good faith because of the nature of the emergency, Turner went to a Chase branch in Eagan and sent 120,000 dollars to Island Food Truck LLC. He repeated the process later in the same day at a different location, another branch in West St. Paul, and sent another amount of $120,000 to the organization named “CNL FL LLC.” Turner only discovered he could have been scammed when discussing the situation with one of his family members and immediately turned to the police.
Investigation and Aftermath
The Eagan Police Department has come up with several suspects and is aiming at bringing charges. The investigation is active, and to date, about $2,500 out of the stolen money has been returned. There is also an investigation on whether personnel of any banks have had a hand in this or had some sensitive account data stolen.
Dallas Turner’s Promising Career
The 22-year-old Dallas Turner, drafted out of Alabama as Alabama (TX) Number 17 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, was named the 2023 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. During his first year on the Vikings team, Turner appeared in 16 games and registered 17 tackles, as well as 3 sacks. He is likely to have a bigger role in the next season despite the short playing time.
A Cautionary Tale
As the experience of Turner shows, there is no particular person who can avoid financial scams. The case acts as a precautionary tale to all athletes and people in general to be wary of strangers and suspicious requests, as well as to use close advisors prior to engaging in major financial dealings.
