Sheriff warns of scam artists
Every parent and grandparent will do anything for a child or grandchild in need, and that desire to assist is where scam artists are preying with more frequency in Lincoln County.
Typically, a county resident will receive a telephone call claiming a family member is in need, and require prompt monetary assistance. And, Lincoln County law-enforcement officials are urging residents to be aware before they send money.
A recent rise in this kind of activity has prompted the Sheriff’s Department to warn residents.
Scammers are again contacting senior citizens by telephone, with the ruse that their grandchild is in trouble or in jail, or has been in an accident, Sheriff Roby Bowe says in the statement. “Often the grandchild is crying and the call can be very convincing and intimidating,” the statement from Sheriff Bowe says.
Most often, the scammer claims that the victim’s grandchild is in jail in Canada or Mexico, and requests bond money to be wired somewhere.
“I have personally investigated many of these scams, and my message would be to sons and daughters and grandkids to warn your parents and grandparents of these,” said Lincoln County Capt. Bo Pitman. “These people are not targeting the 35-year-old adult. They are targeting the 75- to 80-year-olds. Warn them of these scams.”
Several different scammers will get on the telephone claiming to represent the police or an attorney. This is referred to nationwide as the “grandparent scam” and is responsible for a lot of money being wired away, and never seen again, the statement warns.
Several Lincoln County residents have also reported being called at home by someone claiming to be from Microsoft Technical Support or Windows Help Desk. These scammers claim they will fix a computer, and that the victim will need a software update to do so. The update actually is malicious software that allows the subject to access the victim’s computer at will.
Victims will never receive a legitimate call from Microsoft or their partners to charge you for computer fixes. They will never ask you for banking information.
Visit the following Microsoft link for more information: http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
The Sheriff’s Department reminds citizens never to give out any personal or financial information over the telephone to someone who calls you.
“Do not let them intimidate you,” Bowe said. “Although they may sound very articulate and convincing. If you believe it’s too farfetched or too good to be true, it is most likely a scam.”
If you suspect you are being scammed, ask the caller for their name, address, and call-back phone number, and then call information and get the agency phone number they claim to be representing and call it to verify any information given you. If a conversation with an unknown person leads to the request to “wire” money, it is most likely a scam. Please also take the time to educate all of your susceptible family members of this growing threat.
The Montana Office of Consumer Protection offers a “scam alert” e-mail system which sends emails to citizens warning of the latest scams making the rounds in Montana: www.consumerprotection.mt.gov The Montana Attorney General’s office offers the following top ten consumer fraud protection tips:
• Never give out personal information to someone soliciting it from you over the phone or the Internet. Banks will never call and ask for your personal information.
• Never wire or give money to someone you don’t know. Even if you think it’s someone you know, follow-up to make sure before you wire any money.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
• Get a security freeze on your credit: go to www consumerprotection.mt.gov to access forms.
• Use common sense and do your due diligence: ask around, talk to others, call us if you have any doubts or questions.
• Be skeptical, resist high pressure tactics, and take your time.
• Ignore postcards and advertisements for free products, sweepstakes wins, magazine sales, etc. If you did not enter into the lottery or sweepstakes that is contacting you, you did not win.
• Register with the National Do Not Call Registry: www.donotcall.gov
• Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements. Be alert to small charges that may appear insignificant, but will add up over time.
• Shred any financial documents or other documents that contain personal information (Social Security numbers, birth dates, personal contact information, bank account or credit card information).