Uptick In Phone Scams in West Suburbs: Protect Yourself From Becoming A Victim

Con artists are working the phones and Internet overtime in the west suburbs. A man in Naperville recently sent $12,000 to someone claiming to be from the “Crime Investigation Unit” telling him to send Green Dot Money Cards or he would be arrested.

The Internal Revenue Service estimates that it sent out 3 million fraudulent refunds last year. A new report out this week from the Government Accountability Office estimates that U.S. taxpayers have been bilked out of $5.2 billion, through phone and email scams, and identity theft, profiled on “60 Minutes.”

The IRS has also issued a strong warning to consumers to guard against sophisticated and aggressive phone scams targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, as reported incidents of this crime continue to rise nationwide, a news advisory states.

“The IRS will always send taxpayers a written notification of any tax due via the U.S. mail. The IRS never asks for credit card, debit card or prepaid card information over the telephone,” the agency says.

Reports of bogus callers posing as officers from local law enforcement agenciesand the “grandchild in distress” phone scam, have also been covered by Patch in recent months.

To avoid becoming a crime victim, never deal with monetary exchanges to solicitations by phone or online. The Hinsdale Police Department offers these helpful tips on the current and common methods scammers use to access your cash:

• Scams can come from anywhere US mail, over the phone, E mail, E-bay, Craig’s list, and various other sources online or even door-to-door.
• Never send money overseas. Law enforcement can often do little to locate the scammers or recover the money once sent.
• If ever you are to receive an unsolicited check, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK TO THE BANK. The check is likely fictitious.
• Deals on the internet that sound “too good to be true” usually are.
• Never make a payment directly to a salesperson. Verify the salesperson’s business or organization, and make payment directly to the business or organization. Contact the Better Business Bureau to check on a firm, or check credentials with financial authorities.
• All investments come with a risk. If the promoter claims that it is a “sure thing” do not buy it.
• Be wary of phone calls informing you that you have won a prize but need to pay to receive the prize. Scammers now are requesting you to purchase gift cards or pre-paid credit cards and solicit the numbers by phone from the cards.
• Be wary of phone calls from persons representing themselves as government officials (or law enforcement members) threatening arrest if you fail to pay them a fine, or to pay a fine to release a jailed family member.
• Scammers will stay current with the media and government. They will call posing as a government officials asking personal information with regards to healthcare. Do not provide personal information to callers unless you’ve verified their identity or organization and purpose.
• NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION OR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Stay current with the latest scams by regularly checking these online resources, Hinsdale police advise:

• AARP offers videos and current information on money scams sweeping the nation;

• Illinois Attorney General
• Consumers can report scams by using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “other” and “imposter scams.” If you’ve received a threatening phone by some posting as an IRS agent, include that in the notes.
• Call the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484 if you’ve received a threatening phone call or email from someone posing as an IRS agent and have no reason to believe you owe back taxes.
• Detailed information about “phishing” scams and other cons targeting taxpayers is also available on the genuine IRS website.

Source: Hinsdale Police Department