Police apprehended a 74-year-old woman in Ohio for allegedly robbing a bank, and their report says she committed the act out of desperation after she reportedly lost her life savings in an online scam.
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Ann Mayers was arrested after she allegedly robbed the AurGroup Financial Credit Union Bank at gunpoint. The Fairfield Township Police Department said in a statement that she faces charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence. The tampering charge was added after she allegedly threw her clothing out of her car window while driving home from the crime scene. In a report by Inside Edition, Mayers could be facing up to 15 years in prison, and during the heist, she managed to steal $500.
Sgt. Brandon McCrosky confirmed that the motive behind her crime was desperation after losing all of her life savings to an online scam. Mayers explained to investigators that she was deceived by someone who asked her to send money to U.S. Customs. She also told her family about the robbery scheme, but they didn’t believe her. She reportedly owed her sister $5,000 and a friend $65,000, funds provided to her as loans.
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“In that aspect, some may see her as a ‘victim.’ Unfortunately, Ann chose to victimize several other people in the bank by robbing it with a firearm as a remedy for her situation,” McCrosky said. Before the robbery, Mayers allegedly altered her car’s appearance by replacing the license plate and removing a recognizable bumper sticker. While waiting for her first court appearance, Mayers declared indigent status, meaning she cannot afford legal representation.
According to a 2023 Ipsos poll, nearly a third of Americans report being victims of online financial fraud. While all age groups are susceptible, there are variations. Studies suggest younger adults (18-34) may fall victim more often, but older adults (especially 70+) tend to lose more significant sums of money. Women are reportedly more likely than men to say that they are victims of financial cybercrime or online banking fraud.
