OAK CREEK, WI — The Oak Creek Applebee's was a victim of fraud this week after a fraudster called the restaurant manager, posing as a regional manager in need of a fast financial transaction.

Oak Creek police responded to the Applebee's just after 1 a.m. on Tues. Sep. 5 on a report of fraud. According to police reports, a person posing as an Applebee's Regional Manager called the Applebee's in Oak Creek, and falsely stated that a co-worker, a Director of Operations, was under investigation for fraud and embezzlement.

The suspect posing as the Regional Manager stated that the restaurant manager was going to be arrested and the restaurant's finances audited. The fraudster then instructed the manager to go to two separate Pilot gas stations and place cash from the restaurant on two Green Dot prepaid cards and then provide the card information to the fraudster.

The action was carried out, in which the manager placed $200 on six cards and $250 on six more cards. After fees, the total loss to the restaurant was $2,771. ---------------