[MD Expat in PA]

Use cash, folks and never tell the bank what you are using the money for if they ever ask. The teller will ask when the sum withdrawn is in the thousands.

That’s all fine and good except for the refund scammers.

You can look up what that is all about on your own but sometimes the scammers will tell the person being scammed to withdraw a large amount of cash from their bank and send the cash in a box to a money mule via FedEx or UPS.

Tellers have been trained to be on the lookout for possible scams, especially when the person is elderly. The scammers will specifically tell the victim to lie about the reason for the large cash withdrawal. The same is true in many retailers that sell gift cards when a customer is buying many gift cards for high dollar values, another way scammers steal money.

You might think the teller is being intrusive into your personal business but sometimes they are actually looking out for you.

[joma89]

I know the various reasons a teller asks this question and thanks for posting to let others know. My answer to the teller of “you do not need to know” shows I can stand up to authority and I am most likely not taking money out as paft of a scam.

Thanks for posting.