Scammers using new tricks to prey on unsuspecting, and it’s working

By: 
Steve Chapman

Liberia seeking phone scam victims in Lawrence County; resident tricked out of $10,000 through Facebook, text
 
As people begin to get their tax refunds, and the latest round of stimulus checks appears likely to be sent out soon, the prospect of large amounts of available cash attracts the attention of those who hope to grab a bit of that money for themselves.
Towards that end, phone scammers who are operating from outside of the country have been calling Lawrence County residents with ever more creative stories in an attempt to persuade people to hand over their money.
$10,000 scammed from Law. Co. resident
“Every case I have investigated … all trace back to Liberia,” said Detective Sgt Melissa Phillips, of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. “We had a local citizen being scammed by someone stating they were an FBI agent needing money to help take care of abused people. They had sent this ‘FBI’ agent over $10,000 via Facebook messenger and communicated with him via text.”
The scammers also observed the victim’s social media postings to demand more money.
“During the time of their scam, (the victim’s) granddaughter ran away and they started sharing her missing persons profile on Facebook,” Phillips said. “They received a call from another number stating they had kidnapped the granddaughter and were requesting a ransom.”
Even when the granddaughter was located and the hoax was revealed, Phillips said, the scammers still persisted in their ruse.
“During my Investigation, I discovered (the victim) was being scammed. After several subpoenas and search warrants, I was able to show her that both numbers were (from) Liberia (for the) ‘FBI Agent’ and the ‘Kidnapper.’ We also located her granddaughter, who had run away on her own. But they were still calling, threatening they had her and she was going to die if they didn’t pay, even after she had been returned home.”
Check scam
Another scam a lot of people fall prey to, Williams said, is the “Check/Western Union” scam. In this scam, a scammer sends a person a fake check and tells the person to cash it, keep $100 for themselves, and then send a check from their personal account to a second person, whom the scammers have also been in contact with.

 The second person is then told to cash the check and send the money, minus $100, to the scammer via Western Union.
“Unfortunately, this one happens often and several people fall victim to it,” Phillips said. “The first person does receive money but it’s always a fake check (which) the bank doesn’t typically catch for two to three business days. They then stop payment on their check, which the second person’s bank doesn’t catch until two to three days later. So now, everyone is out money and fees.”
Law enforcement hoax
Sometimes scammers call posing as members of law enforcement. The scammer tells the victim there is a warrant out for their arrest, but the person can “resolve” the situation by sending the scammer money, usually in the form of gift cards. Phillips said such scammers have actually tried to extort money out of her.
“I have personally received several scam calls, but the most recent one I have received … starts out as a recording. On the recording, they state they’re the Sheriff’s Office and tell me I have been suspected of bank fraud and have a warrant for my arrest and to resolve the issue press one. When you press one, a person comes on the phone asking for your name.”
The scammers hung up the first time when they found out Phillips was a member of law enforcement. The second time they called her, she gave them a fake name.
“I was told to hold on the line while they located my file. They told me that they found my file, and I had a warrant for my arrest to verify my address, (so) I gave them the address to the Sheriff’s Office. I was told to hold again, and then they hung up.”
Disconnected phone scam
“I used to get calls with recordings stating that my phone was being shut off due to failure to pay,” she said. “I hung up each time and called Verizon, who verified my account was paid in full. They also warned if I pressed one and or opened any attachment they sent, I could put a virus on my phone.”
IRS scam
Sometimes, scammers impersonate IRS agents to try to get person information from victims, which they then use to file false tax returns to get refund checks from the IRS. Phillips said no one should give any information to a caller claiming to be from the IRS.
“Normally, this time of year the scammers call to gain information and file a false tax return in the person’s name,” she said. “I haven’t heard of it this year, (but) we try and tell everyone that the IRS doesn’t call you.”
Relative-in-jail scam
Other scams include the scammer calling a person and telling them a loved one is in jail, and they must pay the bond immediately, or that they have won a car or cash, and it will be delivered once they have paid a luxury tax and a delivery fee. Sometimes, Phillips said, people pay the scammer without stopping to check and see if what they are saying is really true.
“If you have truly won something, that means it’s free,” she said. “Yes, at some point you will have to pay taxes to your local county or state, but never before you receive your prize.”
Gift card scam
Williams also said if a person over the phone is demanding that you wire them money or send them a gift card to get a prize or to avoid arrest, don’t do it.
“If any message or call is received, and they want you to drive to Walmart and get a Green Dot card, Visa card or Western Union, it is a scam,” she said. “They know once you give them the numbers on that card, they have the money and absolutely nothing can be done to get your money back.”
Report a scam
If you have fallen victim to a scam, call the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at (417)466-2131, and the Missouri State Attorney General’s regional office in Springfield at (417) 895-6567.
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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