By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department A variety of financial “scams” continue to occur. These are frequent occurrences, designed to take advantage of people’s generosity or lack of knowledge. As a follow up to my last article on the IRS, I wanted to bring two others to your attention that occurred in Town within the last few weeks. As has been mentioned, telephone, internet, and mail scams have been occurring for many years. With advances in technology, these occur with greater frequency. Those responsible prey on unsuspecting individuals and obtain either quick cash or other personal data, such as bank account numbers. A person was recently was contacted and told there was a warrant for their arrest, possibly based on their social security number being compromised.They were told they would need to correct this immediately and pay money, or the local authorities would be by to arrest them.The scammers in these instances often have some basic information about their target and will be very persistent. Fortunately, no information was shared. Should this occur, and you wish to check on your status, the Social Security Office is the best resource. The government rarely, if ever, conducts business over the phone. Police departments would not call in these instances, especially if they can simply go see you in person. If there are tax questions, and you have your taxes prepared by a professional, they should also be able to assist you.You can also seek assistance through your bank, credit card companies, or other agencies you do business with to determine your best course of action. Identity protection services can also help bring you peace of mind if that is the way you wish to proceed. These can play a vital role in safeguarding your identity by notifying you of attempts to access your personal information. Another recent situation involved an older woman who was called by a person claiming to be her grandson. He informed her he had been arrested and she needed to send money for bail. Fortunately, she checked with our office prior to sending thousands of dollars to the scammer and the problem was averted. Many of these scams are often based in a foreign country and the elderly are frequently targets. People take advantage of a senior’s kind nature and can sometimes fool them into believing the story. |
The important thing to remember is do not conduct business transactions unless you are sure of the people and places you are dealing with. If you are not expecting something (money or other items), there is a strong likelihood that the offer is not legitimate. If someone you know is possibly in trouble, try to verify the story with family, friends, or even the police. Be very cognizant of these scam possibilities and report these immediately to the police and or your bank. Be very protective of your personal information. When in doubt, ask a question of the proper authorities and avoid becoming a victim.
Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
|