Contact 6: Scammers now working nightclubs

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 has a warning for all the night owls out there! Scammers are now working nightclubs -- looking to steal money from those out having a good time.

"They would approach a young woman at a nightclub, flash a lot of cash, buy them a drink or two and they would say 'hey, we`re launching an entrepreneurial business,'" U.S. Postal Inspector Keith Moore said.

While still in the club, the scammers would offer to help these women set up their own company.

"To start my business he told me to go downtown to get a certificate for the business and then take it to him," Briana Scroggiens said.

Scroggiens was one of those women. She filled out the forms to start a business, then opened a bank account with checks supplied by the scammers.

"I deposited two checks for I think about $5,000 and I withdrew the money and gave it to the guy," Scroggiens said.

"They would basically have them deposit fraudulent checks. The checks would then be deemed fraudulent and the women would be on the hook for the money," Moore said.

Scroggiens ended up owing the bank $10,000. 

"The victims were basically at a loss. Their credit was hurt. They were in debt to the financial institution for the money they lost," Moore said.

Scroggiens was one of 25 victims in this case with more than $300,000 in losses.