BOULDER, Colo.—The FBI said Thursday it is investigating an extortion attempt at a King Soopers grocery store like one used across the country, where someone threatens to blow up workers with a bomb unless they wire money to an overseas account.
Denver FBI spokeswoman Rene VonderHaar said the Boulder attempt was Wednesday.
It wasn’t clear whether employees wired any money. A spokeswoman King Soopers’ parent, Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., didn’t immediately return a call.
VonderHaar didn’t release any details.
The extortion scheme has been tried on banks, grocery stores and discount stores in roughly a dozen states. A caller leads employees believe he is inside the store or is watching them.
Workers at a Wal-Mart in Rhode island were so frightened they wired $10,000 to the caller, police said.
FBI officials in Washington say they’re close to identifying a suspect.
