VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – News 3’s investigative team continues to pursue a scam affecting dozens of Navy Federal customers across Hampton Roads as criminals target the military and young people.

We recently spoke with Travis Minson, who told us he was frustrated with Navy Federal after he said he was the victim of a crime.

Watch: Scam targeting Navy Federal customers costing victims thousands in Hampton Roads

Scam against Navy Federal customers costing victims thousands in Hampton Roads

The 23-year-old said he was trying to help strangers when they approached him in Virginia Beach and asked to use his phone. He instead said they took out a personal loan in his name last December through the Navy Federal app.

He was shocked when he received a letter from Navy Federal saying he was responsible for the $7,000 personal loan the suspects had taken out in his name.

“They’re giving the wrong job, and they’re also giving the wrong number of years I’ve been working there,” Minson said.

He said he was told this information by two different Navy Federal employees.

Minson said he tried unsuccessfully to obtain a copy of the loan they took out in his name from Navy Federal.

“They couldn’t give me this application, a copy of it. All they could do was give me a promissory note that only had the numbers on the loan itself,” Minson said.

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A loyal WTKR viewer saw our story and wanted to help Minson. We met with him to personally deliver a letter with a $250 check.

Minson was extremely grateful for the kind gesture. He said this was a difficult lesson as he continues to pay back the fraudulent loan.

Initially, Navy Federal sent us a statement regarding the fraud affecting their customers, stating that safety was their top priority and providing advice to customers. The full statement can be found below.

We’ve asked Navy Federal repeatedly whether they would make any security changes to prevent this and why Minson would be forced to pay back a loan he didn’t take out.

We also asked about loan guidelines and why Minson cannot receive a copy of the application issued in his name.

They finally sent this statement:

Commenting on his experience with Navy Federal after the incident, Minson said, “I feel like they could definitely handle this a lot better, especially considering how many people it affected.”

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Police in Norfolk warned about the scam last year.

According to authorities, scammers approach victims – usually at a traffic light or in a parking lot – and ask them to use the victim’s phone. They quickly take out a personal loan while holding the victim’s phone and then send money to each other via Cash App.

Our investigation uncovered dozens of cases throughout Hampton Roads.

Here is a breakdown of reported cases in our region:

• Virginia Beach police reported 70 cases this year
• Norfolk Police reported 68 cases in the last two years
• Chesapeake police had 120 cases
• Newport News reported six cases in the past two years
• Suffolk had nine cases
• Portsmouth reported 23 cases

Portsmouth police said they have seen similar cases at other credit unions and said customers who bank at financial institutions with faster loan approval processes tend to be easier targets.

“If you just give your phone to someone, you technically put yourself in danger if you give it to the wrong person or put it in the wrong hands,” said Richard James, a former detective and crime analyst.