The Summers County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community about phone scams that are circulating in the community. In a statement released to the department’s Facebook page, it is stated that the office has received multiple complaints regarding phone scams.
Sadly, phone scams have become incredibly common and there are several different types. Some are from actual people while others are what is known as robocalls. Some even come in the form of text messages. According to a press release from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Feb. 2021, they received in excess of 2.1 million fraud reports in 2020 from consumers. The release goes on to say that newly released data shows that imposter scams are the most commonly reported type of fraud.
Imposter scams are generally conducted via call, text or email. According to consumer.gov, “In an imposter scam, a dishonest person lies and tricks you into sending money to them.” The scammer often requests that the person send them money via gift card or wire transfer. Some of the most common scams are that the person owes money to the IRS or other government agency, the person received a check for too much money and the extra needs to be returned, a prize has been won but fees must be paid and a supposed tech company saying there is a problem with the person’s computer.
There are several ways to combat these types of scams. In the release from the sheriff’s office, there is a list of warning signs according to AARP. According to this list as well as others from USA.gov and consumers.gov always be cautious of unsolicited calls from anyone claiming to work for a government agency such as the IRS or Social Security as well as anyone claiming to be with a major tech company such as Apple or Microsoft. Other calls to watch out for are unsolicited calls from charity fundraisers. This one is particularly prevalent after a disaster.
One way to help avoid scam calls is to register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. If a person continues to receive telemarketing calls after taking this step, the likelihood of that call being a scam is exponential.
While it is important to be wary of numbers you do not recognize, it is also important to remember that scammers can change their number to appear to be calling from anywhere. This is called “spoofing.”
If you do receive a suspicious call, there are a few ways to stay as safe as possible. If the caller asks, “Can you hear me?” or a variation on that question, do not respond, “yes.” According to consumer.gov, scammers often use this tactic to record the person saying “yes” and then use that recording to approve purchases or credit card charges. Never give personal information such as banking information, credit card numbers or social security numbers. If the caller asks you to send money by wire or a prepaid debit card, do not send it. If a charity or business opportunity sounds like something you may be interested in, take time to research that company and look into whether or not the call was legitimate.
The FTC launched a new resource website in Oct. of 2020 to help consumers report fraud. The website is wwwww.ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports from consumers submitted through this new site will continue to be stored in the Consumer Sentinel Network which is a “secure online database available only to law enforcement.” Other options for reporting a fraud claim include calling the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or going to www.ftc.gov/complaint.
In the release from the Sheriff’s Office, it states, “The Sheriff’s Office wants to do everything in our power to help you in the event that you fall victim to one of these phone scams.” It goes on to say, “Unfortunately, offering you this information is as much as we can do considering most scammers are not even in the county, state or the country. The statement ends by saying, “If you receive a phone call that you believe to be a scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint.”
To see the full release, visit the “Summers County Sheriffs Department” Facebook page.
