Police: No scarcity of scam artists

Posted by Press Release on July 21, 2015

Area police departments report that scam artists continue to prey on citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.

In response, the Kennett Township Police Department prepared a list of the scams that have been reported recently in a press release. Police advise residents to validate any transaction. If in doubt about its legitimacy, contact police first to avoid becoming a victim, the release said.

Electric Company scam - (businesses) - Phone calls from subjects representing electrical companies threaten to shut off power to business unless a payment is made. typically through Green Dot cards.

Grandparent scam - Caller is representing or impersonating a loved one who is in desperate need of money for a variety of reasons, such as release on bail. In several reported incidents, victims lost in excess of $1,000.

IRS scam - Callers advise that they are an agent from the IRS and threaten imminent arrest unless payment is immediately made (usually with Green Dot cards). Several victims reported losses in excess of $5,000; however, the IRS never solicits money by phone.

Lottery scam - Caller/letter/email advises that you have won the lottery (usually a foreign or out-of-state lottery, such as Publishers Clearing House), claims you need to pay taxes on winnings prior to receiving them (usually via Western Union). In several reported incidents, victims lost more than $2,000.

Microsoft Windows/computer scam - Caller advises that they are from Microsoft and need to perform a service on computer. Once the victim provides information (usually via a link), the caller threatens victims to make a payment for services or the computer will be infected with a virus (which they can do if provided access to the computer). New variants of Ransomware, known as CryptoLocker or Cryptowall, are spreading via spam emails, drive-by downloads, or malware already on your computer. Once a computer is infected, files are locked with unbreakable encryption until a ransom of $300-$500 in bitcoins is paid.

Employment scams – Victims are sent emails from an "agency offering an employment opportunity" and a fraudulent check with instructions to cash it, keep some money, and send the remainder to another party via Western Union.

Credit Card Company scam - Caller purports to be from your credit card company (usually popular banks or generic MasterCard/Visa, etc.), and claims the need to verify information, which could trick victims into providing data that will lead to identity theft.