Gresham Police Warn Of New Phone Scam Targeting Multnomah County Residents

GRESHAM, OR — Gresham police on Monday announced the existence of a new telephone scam targeting Multnomah County residents — specifically residents whose first language is not English.

As recently as June 11, the Gresham Police Department has heard from people who say scammers are using the Multnomah County dispatch non-emergency line to trick residents into sending money either to avoid their own arrest or to help get a loved one out of jail, Gresham police spokeswoman Malaka Kerbs said, adding the scammers have also been able to make their number appear as other government phone numbers.

"This is something Oregon law enforcement agencies won't do," Gresham Police Captain Claudio Grandjean said in a statement. "Even if someone has unpaid fines, police won't require a money wire to avoid arrest. And we will never ask for any money to be sent to a specific person or someone out of country."

The scammers claim to be FBI agents, police officers, or members of a foreign consulate, Kerbs said. Typically, the scammers will demand money be wired to avoid arrest or to have someone released from custody.

On Sunday afternoon, an east county resident lost nearly $1,000 when he sent money to someone who claimed the resident was facing arrest for a crime in which he was not involved, Kerbs said. According to police, when the resident challenged the caller, the supposed official reportedly told the resident to check the number for verification of the claim. The number appeared as 503-823-3333 — the county non-emergency line. But after the resident sent one payment the scammer called back asking for more, which led to resident to call police.

"People can always come to the police department and meet with an officer in person," Grandjean said. "That way they'll be the one initiating the contact and can rest assured that we're there to help them."

Phone scams of these kinds happen throughout the year, Grandjean continued, noting the scams often take two forms, both of which prey on the resident's fear.

The first form of phone scam most often involves a threat of arrest if no payment is received, Kerbs said. The second form typically sees the caller claim a resident's family member has been arrested outside of U.S. for something like an uninsured car accident. Several of the scam calls appear to originate from the Dominican Republic, she said.

Some of the calls will even have the supposedly arrested family member appear on the call, tearfully pleading for help while also demanding secrecy, Kerbs said. And after the first payment is received, there is usually a second call demanding more.

If a resident receives a call they believe is illegitimate, Kerbs said they should do one or more of the following things:

• call the police;
• call a trusted friend;
• call the family of the loved one being used in the scam; and
• do not send any money or give out any personal information.

Essentially, Kerbs said, before getting worked up about the threats being made, think about what the scammer is claiming and ask yourself: Is there any chance any of it could be true?

Do you owe someone money? Do you have any family or friends out of country? Are you being asked to send money to an individual person, a personal address, or out of the country entirely?

"Take a moment to calm yourself and think through the situation," Kerbs said. "Time is on your side, even when the scammer lies to make you think otherwise."

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