By: Matt Scher, [email protected]
(KHBT) – Law enforcement agencies across north central and northwest Iowa are investigating a string of incidents involving a group of men attempting to cash forged checks all at once.
Incidents have been reported in Rolfe, Pocahontas, Rockwell City, Sac City and Storm Lake. Investigators say no one has been hurt in any of the locations.
In Rofle, a group of about 30 men entered the United Bank of Iowa on Friday morning. The men presented paychecks that appeared to come from a local dairy, but the checks were actually forged. Reportedly, the men successfully got away with “tens of thousands of dollars” collectively.
The same men targeted the United Bank of Iowa’s branch in Pocahontas after hitting the Rolfe location. A group of at least 30 men entered the bank around 9:30 a.m., and once again presented forged paychecks that appeared to come from a local dairy. In this case, the men successfully cashed more than $40,000 collectively.
A group of men also targeted a bank in Rockwell City on Friday, but was unsuccessful in cashing any checks. The Sac City Police Department said the same group successfully cashed “fictitious” checks at the United Bank of Iowa branch in that city on Friday. The group is also believed to have hit in Storm Lake.
The Pocahontas Police Department is currently looking for information to locate approximately 30 males Hispanic in appearance. Most were wearing COVID masks. They were part of a forged checks scam in Rolfe, Pocahontas, Rockwell City, Sac City, Storm Lake.
If you have any information on these individuals please contact the Pocahontas Police Department at (712) 335-3536.