A report of a possible robbery in a Carlsborg fuel station turned out to be a scam directed towards employees, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Shaun Minks reports that deputies, a Washington State Trooper, and Sequim Police Department officers responded at 1:28 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 to an unnamed fuel station where a caller reported seeing two men inside the closed business hitting an ATM believing it to be a robbery.

Deputies spoke to the two men and saw cash from the ATM and tools used to access the machine on the counter, Minks reports.

However, deputies learned the men were employees of the business and being targeted by a scammer claiming to be the business’ owner.

Minks reports that the scammer told them to download a phone app, call a number he provided, and remove money from the business’ safe, registers and ATM for an “emergency pickup.”

When the employees said they could not access the ATM, the scammer told the men to break it open as it was insured.

During deputies’ investigation, they called and spoke directly with the scammer who admitted to being a “professional scammer,” and taunted the deputies by saying they’d never identify or capture him before ending the call.

No money was stolen, Minks reports, and the only damage sustained was to the ATM.

Sheriff’s Office representatives declined to reveal the name of the fuel station, and a 911 call list from Pencom did not show a call to the Sequim area at the reported time.

According to Sheriff’s Office staff, scammers often impersonate business owners, managers, or corporate representatives to trick employees into releasing money or property.

If you or someone you know receives unusual instructions to handle cash, safes, or ATMs, verify directly with your employer through a known phone number before taking action.

Anyone with questions or who has experienced a similar scam is encouraged to contact the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2262 or call dispatch at 360-417-2459 (Option 1).