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Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner was reportedly the target of a $240,000 bank fraud scheme.
"Through our investigation, several suspects have been identified, and we are working toward criminal charges to hold them accountable," Eagan (Minnesota) Police Sgt. Rich Evans said in a statement to ESPN on Wednesday (July 9).
Approximately $2,500 of the stolen funds have already been returned and the investigation into the incident is active. Turner, 22, and his attorney contacted the Eagan Police Department about the alleged incident in April, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in Dakota County District Court this week, which was obtained and published by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The warrant claims that Turner received a call from someone impersonating a banker at JPMorgan Chase who "claimed someone was attempting to impersonate [Turner] at a Chase Bank branch in Arizona and presented two copies of ID to execute a wire transfer," on February 19. The caller instructed Turner to transfer money to two separate businesses to prevent the supposed attempted theft, which he complied to,n putting $120,000 each to "Island Food Truck LLC" and "CNL FL LLC."
Turner later realized he "may have been a victim of a fraud scam" while discussing the situation with a relative, at which point he contacted police, the affidavit states. The Eagan Police Department has requested details on JPMorgan's investigation, including whether any employees may have potentially been involved with the incident.
Turner, a consensus All-American, First-team All-SEC and the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, was selected by the Vikings at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and recorded 20 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss, five QB hits and one interception as a backup during his rookie season, with a bigger role expected in his second year.