Eric Stewart has been working as a Kwik Sak gas station clerk in Gallatin, Tennessee for years. And to him, it’s more than just a job. He builds relationships with his customers—many of whom are regulars—and keeps tabs on them when they visit.

Lista Clark was one of those visitors. Last week, Clark frantically came into his gas station looking for a Bitcoin machine. On the phone was a man claiming she was being charged with fraud and conspiracy.

“They said that I was being charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud against the United States government, and it also said that my name and email address had opened up 22 checking accounts for PPP loans,” Clark told WTVF.

There was even a voicemail from a Sheriff saying she needed to return her call for an “urgent legal matter.” A text message included a convincing warrant for her arrest. The scammer demanded $6,200 to have the matter dissolved. That’s when she began searching for the Bitcoin machine.

The gas station employee immediately knew something was wrong

Clark’s call was on speaker phone, so Stewart carefully approached her.

“I whispered to her so the caller couldn’t hear me, I was like, Can you put them on mute?'” he recalled. “And she goes, ‘Right, hold on,’ and she put on mute. Then I said, ‘Do you know who you’re talking to?’ and she said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Ma’am this is a scam. They’re gonna take your money.'”

When the scammer learned she’d been alerted, they hung up and never contacted her again.

Stewart told the outlet he had personal experience with the scam, having seen the same thing play out multiple times. Before police discovered it was a scam, they’d visited the gas station several times. Now, he keeps a keen eye on the Bitcoin machine in the back.

“When I saw anyone talking on the phone near the Bitcoin machine in the back, that’s a big red flag to me,” Stewart said.

Clark is thankful he stepped in when he did.

“Thank you so much, you saved me $6,200,” she said. “I just felt so stupid for being bamboozled!”

Clark thinks scammers got her information from previous loan applications

During the pandemic, Clark said she applied for and received a PPP loan. That, she thinks, is how scammers got her personal information. The information made the text, voicemail, and phone call more convincing.

Several banks are reporting PPP loan scams like the one Clark almost fell for. To avoid being scammed, realize that banks will not contact you via text. Most won’t even call—a letter will come before anything else.

Additionally, most banks will never ask for immediate payment, or threaten legal action. If you’re ever unsure, contact your bank directly for verification.