Lake Saint Louis Police Alert Citizens to Telephone Scams

Lake Saint Louis Police Chief Michael Force cautions residents not to fall for telephone and email based scams and urges people to check the facts and not be pressured into acting hastily.

“Scammers and con men prey on people’s emotions. The wisest thing a person can do is to approach these calls with healthy skepticism and check into the facts of the matter,” Chief Force advised. “If you happen to let your guard down and fall victim, report it to the police immediately.”

One ploy feeds on a person’s fear or concern for loved ones. An example of this is when the person receives a phone call allegedly on behalf of a relative who has been arrested in another country and needs money to post bond. Usually the caller will start out by saying something like, “I’m Officer So-and-So of the RCMP. We arrested your grandson and he needs you to wire us $3,000 for his bond. Otherwise, we’ll have to keep him in jail.”

The individuals who run this scam can be very convincing and are quite adept at getting the victim to provide information that is then turned back and used to convince them that the call is legitimate. The smart thing to do is to get specific information about the agency that has allegedly made the arrest. Before you send any money, you need to verify that it isn’t a scam.

Do not trust a telephone number provided by the caller. Get the correct telephone number from directory assistance and contact the agency independently to confirm whether the individual has been arrested and, if so, what bond amount has been set. The shock, fear, anxiety and concern generated by receiving such a call may interfere with the victim’s ability to think clearly. Be aware that the person calling could be a scam artist looking to make easy money.

If it isn’t bad news they use in an attempt to deceive you, it’s really good news—or so they claim. Beware of the scenario wherein a caller claims you have won a prize or some other windfall has come your way. If they expect you to send money, ask for a credit card number, or if they want banking or personal identification information in order to claim your good fortune, they are most likely trying to scam you. 

Even if the amount you are being asked to send is a small portion of the amount you will allegedly gain, reputable businesses do not require a “lucky winner” to pay to collect the prize.

According to Chief Force, “There have been recent reports of residents receiving telephone calls allegedly notifying them that they are sweepstakes winners. The catch is,” he continued, “the caller wants the victim to send upwards of $10,000 to secure the prize. That’s not how it is supposed to work. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. If it sounds like it could be a scam, it probably is a scam."

Sometimes con artists play on the victim’s sympathy or sense of righteousness. An example would be those emails that circulate periodically wherein the victim is asked to help deposed royalty or oppressed people from a foreign country convert currency. Regardless how sad a story the person has, remember that such situations are not resolved by contacting total strangers and asking for help.

“The con artists who are out there today are no different than the grifters and snake oil salesmen who preyed on people throughout history," Chief Force noted. “They’re just constantly inventing new ways to scam people.

"The best advice I can offer to avoid becoming a victim is to remember that people are not always who they seem to be. Until you are able to confirm the veracity of their claims, you should hold on tight to your money and safeguard your personal information.”