The following is a brief of the story. For the full version, see the Wednesday, Feb. 11 print edition of the BDN.

The economy is bad and some people are out to make a buck, even if its at the expense of another. The BDN has reported on an increasing number of scams in recent months and the police always have the same thing to say: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”

Claims of reduced interest rates, making money by mystery shopping and helping someone “in need” may sound attractive to people – but things might not always be as they seem.

This time, the scam victim isn’t an unassuming individual but a local business. Captain Don Smith of the Boonville Police Department said on Feb. 4, a Boonville bank became the prey.