Joyce-CA Webb
At a recent presentation, Lou Sampson provided updates as well as reminders of recurring scams.
The fraudsters attempt to put a new twist on old scams with the hope that they can fool you into believing their plot.
If you receive a phone call, email or letter that sounds like an older scam, it most likely is. Please be aware of people attempting to take advantage of your good nature. Delete the email, hang up the phone and shred that letter!
Do not converse with the fraudster; do not click into the site and do not send the requested information as any contact will only encourage this behavior. Do not spend your time by giving them a piece of your mind. Conversing with them only raises the potential for you to be victimized.
At the same presentation, the Scam Squad was approached and asked why we are not more specific in reporting current scams.
The Scam Squad often received notification of an email regarding a threat from an Internet service provider. The report read that “due to excess abandoned web mail accounts, we are now performing maintenance on your digital web mail system.” The threat states the “account owner that refuses to send his or her account details after two to five working days will lose the account permanently for email violation—.”
Of course, there is no violation. This fake service is requesting your personal information including your birth date. A legitimate service will never ask for this type of information.
The Scam Squad will use a generic term, such as “your internet bundling service.” This generic term will cover all companies providing these services. The fraudster may strike at any service offered in your area. We do not wish to endorse or warn of any particular service because any of these bundling services may be falsely represented by a criminal.
One of the objectives of the Scam Squad is to focus attention on the scam, not individual companies or organizations. It is our purpose to broaden the understanding of potential scams, no matter what the source.
Call the Pima County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers with information about scams and frauds. To contact the Scan Squad call 351-6744 or email [email protected]. To report suspicious activity or a particular incident of fraud call 351-4900.