Phone Scam Info

An informative piece this time to pass along to your friends and neighbors regarding telephone call scams.

 

First is the "missed call' scam that you may have already heard about from the news.  Should you receive a call from a 268 Area Code or other unknown number DO NOT CALL the number back!! Your phone may have been targeted!!  "Scammers' use an Auto-Dialer to call your phone then hang up after one ring so the number shows on your phone as a missed call. Should you call the number back you'll be connected to a Pay-by-Minute phone line that charges $9.00 or more per minute directly to your cell phone bill.  Many times these numbers are based overseas so you may also be charged a steep international call fee.

 

Thus far these area codes have been identified as being used in these scams: 268, 284, 473, 809, 876.  Always be suspicious of calls from numbers you do not recognize especially if no voice mail message is left!! An Internet resource like "who called.us" track complaints about specific numbers and could help in determining the legitimacy of a missed call.

Second is a scam we're seeing Countywide; person receives a call from an unknown number and the person on the other end asks some very basic questions. If the person answering the phone then answers these questions the inquirer gains enough information to tell the person that their son or daughter has been kidnapped and the person needs to forward money for the child's release. Another scenario has the caller telling the person answering that their son/daughter has been involved in an accident and they need to forward money immediately. As with the first scam these calls usually originate from overseas thus tracing it to a location is fruitless. The best way to protect yourself from falling victim to this scam is to make your own phone calls before sending anybody any money anywhere!! Call your children, call your relatives, call friends of yours/theirs to verify the safety/condition of your children before you send money to someone you do not know!!

 

Thus far we in Towson Precinct have taken four (4) reports for this type of fraud with some Victims sending out large amounts of cash.

 

Please spread the word to those around you so that you and they hopefully don't fall prey to these types of scams.

 

Thank You, Sgt Stephen R. Fink, 2815  PC06 COT