Angela Lipps says she has never been to North Dakota. She says she had never even been on an airplane. That didn't stop the U.S. marshals from showing up at her home in Tennessee and arresting her. Lipps, a 50-year-old grandmother of five from Elizabethton, Tennessee, was taken into custody in July 2025 in connection with a bank fraud case more than 1,000 miles away in Fargo, North Dakota. She was not released until around Christmas Eve, meaning she spent more than five months in custody before the case was dismissed. Investigators had used facial recognition software to compare surveillance images from the bank fraud case with photos of Lipps from her driver's license and social media. The result, according to her defense attorney, was a case that never should have gone this far. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report - Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. - For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily. - Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join. HOW SURVEILLANCE TECH LED POLICE TO ACCUSE THE WRONG PERSON How facial recognition led police to Angela Lipps The case began with bank fraud reports in Fargo and nearby West Fargo. Police were looking for a suspect who allegedly used a false military ID to take money from accounts. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and used facial recognition technology to search for a possible match. Then-Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski has described the tool as "an AI function through the North Dakota State Intelligence Center." Jay Greenwood, the Fargo defense attorney appointed to represent Lipps, joined our "CyberGuy Report" podcast at CyberGuyPodcast.com to