Scams Everywhere!

Attentions citizens! You are the perfect target for scams. Within the past few year scams have skyrocketed.  The police department has had several varieties of scams presented to them.   My position in the police department has allowed me to be a hub for scam discussions and new scams people are seeing.  Although the scams that follows may not be exactly what you may encounter, scammers generally operate along the same guidelines.

Craigslist Scam - This occurs when you post your item for sale online and an eager, out-of-country (not always) buyer contacts you. He feels you out to see that you are really in need to get rid of this item or in need of money. He will agree on your price and promptly mail you a check. Either before you receive the check or at the same time you receive the check the buyer discovers he has added an extra zero to the check or money order.  He will tell you to cash the check, keep a little extra for your troubles, and then mail him back the rest. Once you have done this your bank will then contact you and let you know the check is bogus and you need to immediately return the large sum of money it has just given you.

Western Union Scam - This occurs when you are contacted via email or telephone by someone very official sounding, (lawyer, government official, Canadian or utility company). Th person is contacting you about you or a loved one who is in trouble and needs immediate cash.  Somehow they find a loved one you haven’t spoken to in a few months. They need bond money, cash to buy an emergency plane ticket, pay off an emergency debt or overdue bill or some other large purchase.  The victim responds to the request saying, "Yes, how can I help?"  Immediately they will provide you with the detail procedures to Western Union the money to be picked up in some obscure location in England.

Send Funds Now! - This occurs when you are offered free money, which, as we know, happens all the time (not really). You will be contacted by: a potential online employer (a secret shopper), a lottery you never signed up for or someone trying to give you your inheritance from a wealthy aunt in England.  You are promised a large sum of money but you first have to send $300 for a start-up kit, or taxes.  Once they receive your $300, you will never hear from them again.

Suspicious Bank Activity - This occurs when the suspect picks a local bank name and calls local people informing them of suspicious activity on their account.  They need your account number or social security number to proceed and fix the problem.

Let us learn from others’ mistakes. When you are faced with a situation that sounds similar to these scams you will have the knowledge to keep yourself from being a victim. 

Tips:                     

• If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
• Verify the situation; don’t let your emotions allow you to make a bad decision. Call that loved one, talk to them in person.
• Call them out, tell them in an email response or on the phone that this sounds like a scam, please don’t contact me anymore and that you are reporting this to your local police department.
• Never give personal information (credit card number, Social Security number, etc.). If it is a legitimate call, they will already have this information.

Let me know about any new scams you've heard about by emailing me at adilks@stlouisco.com