UPDATE: The Sierra Sentinel reported an online Scam that was reported to the Calaveras Sheriff's Office by a woman in Valley Springs on December 4, 2014.
The Sheriff did not issue a warning,
but the Sierra Sentinel did. Yes, online scams are being attempted, as well as telephone scams. Don't fall for them!!
We also sent out a warning about a telephone scam in the Arnold area in August 2014.
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According to the Angels Camp Police Department, recent telephone scams have again surfaced in our area.
"You've Won a Prize!" they will say!
The scam artist explains that the victim has won a significant prize (large sums of money, vacations, etc.) but a "processing fee" is required.
The scammer indicates that the prize will be finalized after the processing fee is paid. This processing fee ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The scammer will then request that the victim purchase a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer as a method of paying the processing fee.
When the unsuspecting victim makes the payment, the scammer promises to deliver the prize, but the delivery never happens.
Legitimate lotteries and contests will never ask you to pay a fee to collect a prize.
"You Owe us Money!" is another scam technique where scammers claim to be representatives of law enforcement or other government agencies.
In these cases the victims are told they owe money to the agency and it must be paid promptly through a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.
If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver's license.
Law enforcement and other government agencies will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor will they request that a payment be made using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer.
"Family Emergency" is another scam, where you are called and someone pretends to be a loved one that is hurt or in trouble.
They may claim to need money immediately to bail them out of jail, for a hospital bill, a gambling debt or other situation where their safety or security is in jeopardy.
They will often ask you to keep the situation a secret from others. Hang up and call the family member using a phone number that you know is valid to ensure the call was a scam.
1 comment:
This is why it's an anonymous call, I encourage family and friends to look up the phone number at Callercenter.com to find out who's behind the call. Phone scams happen everyday and anyone can be a victim.
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