A Corpus Christi man is sharing his story after falling victim to a scam that cost him about $40,000 in savings, leaving him struggling to keep his home.

Richard Runyan, an 82-year-old veteran and longtime member of the Coastal Bend community through years of involvement in the Rotary Club, said he was targeted by scammers posing as his bank while he was still grieving the loss of his wife.

“I tell everybody, my job was right down my alley,” Runyan said, reflecting on his years as a marketing director for AMF bowling alleys and his lifelong passion for bowling.

Runyan said the scam began with a text message and phone call from someone claiming to be with Bank of America, warning him that money was about to be taken from his account.

“They called me. The guy says ‘we have information that they’re gonna take $20,000 out of your checking account and you need to go down there before noon and pull it out yourself so they can’t get it,’” Runyan said.

Believing the threat was real, Runyan withdrew money and handed over two boxes of cash to the scammers.

“Including the credit card, it was about $41,000,” Runyan said. “It’s my fault for not paying more attention, but I wasn’t coherent on this.”

Runyan said the scam comes at an especially difficult time, as he continues to cope with the loss of his wife, Donna, who battled multiple sclerosis for years.

“Look at her, look how beautiful she is,” Runyan said, pointing to a photo of the couple.

After losing much of his savings, Runyan said he is now at risk of losing his home.

In a statement, a Bank of America spokesperson told 3NEWS, “We recognize the emotional toll and hardship faced by anyone who becomes a victim of a scam. Bank of America provides employees with training and education to help prevent elder abuse and help consumers protect themselves through our Better Money Habits and Bank of America Security Center. To be clear, the root of the problem is criminals who prey on hardworking Americans, and we will continue to work closely with government and law enforcement to hold them accountable.”

Connor Hagan, FBI Public Affairs Officer, said it is critical for victims to report scams, as criminals continue to evolve their tactics.

“It’s too easy for the banks and for the FBI or law enforcement to get involved with a financial fraud kill chain. So they’re moving away from doing wire transfers to cryptocurrency, to gift cards, to cash,” Hagan said.

Despite the loss, Runyan said he is focused staying resilient.

“It’s not okay, but I can deal with it. I’ve always dealt with problems and then even my years of working and all that. I didn’t run from problems. I don’t sit here and cry about what happened. I’ve got to go forward,” Runyan said.

Runyan has created a GoFundMe page and is asking the community for help to cover daily expenses and keep his home.