Sedona AZ (March 21, 2014) – Many reading this article believe themselves incapable of being scammed. Although that may be the case, the elderly and others in Arizona and around the country remain extremely vulnerable to victimization. Be alert to any suspicious activity involving seniors in your family or vulnerable adults in your care and help law enforcement to stop those who take advantage of others. Get Involved – be nosy about unusual phone calls, mail related to so-called sweepstakes “winnings,” and, of course, any internet activity indicating potential fraud.
On March 15, 2014, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies met with a married couple in Congress, Arizona, regarding a fraud scheme. The husband and wife, both in their 90’s, were in good health and readily admitted to deputies they had been “taken advantage of” resulting in loss of thousands of dollars.
On or about March 6, 2014, the couple received a phone call from a man using the name “Tony” explaining they were the winners of a Mercedes-Benz car but they needed to pay a $1200 processing fee to claim the car. The husband went to a local business and obtained pre-paid “Green Dot” cards in the necessary amount and shared those card numbers with “Tony.” Over the next few days, additional monies were requested by “Tony” and the victim complied by purchasing more pre-paid cards and supplying the numbers to “Tony.”
Over $11,000 was accessed by this suspect using the pre-paid card numbers.
Within days of this incident, the victim received a call from a man named “John” who explained the couple just won several “gold bricks.” The victim demanded to meet “John” in person to obtain his prize. “John” requested money from the victim for airplane fare to Congress, Arizona. The victim sent $1000 and arranged to meet “John” at a local market in Congress, but he never appeared. “John” later called and demanding additional funds for the trip. The victim complied and sent an another $1000. The victim eventually called YCSO believing now he had been scammed.
The victim admitted he never entered any contest to win a car or gold. Deputies noted the victim had a difficult time with details as to who the suspects were representing during the calls, and seemed thoroughly confused by the whole ordeal.
Deputies listened to voicemails left by the suspects on the victim’s phone system and determined that the calls originated from Jamaica. It also appeared “Tony” and “John” were the same person.
The victim provided deputies with receipts for each pre-paid card purchase documenting a total loss at $13,600.
Deputies referred the couple to Adult Protective Services for follow-up counseling. Deputies also took time to notify the couple’s son who lives in Arizona, providing him with resource contacts and a suggestion to monitor his parent’s financial situation in light of this incident.
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website www.ycsoaz.gov. If you live in another state or jurisdiction, contact your local sheriff or police department for information and help.
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Thousands of Taxpayers Targeted by Fake Agents – Don’t let this happen to you. As we head into the final days of the tax season more scams are being introduced.
Be aware. Be Sharp and pass the word.
Tony
From: Wall Street Journal, Friday, March 21, 2014
“Thousands of Taxpayers Targeted by Fake Agents
More than 20,000 taxpayers have been targeted by fake Internal Revenue Service agents in the largest phone scam the agency has ever seen, the IRS inspector general said Thursday.
Thousands of victims have lost a total of more than $1 million.
As part of the scam, fake IRS agents call taxpayers, claim they owe taxes, and demand payment using a prepaid debit card or a wire transfer. Those who refuse are threatened with arrest, deportation or loss of a business or driver’s license, said J. Russell George, Treasury inspector general for tax administration.
Real IRS agents usually contact people first by mail, he said. And they don’t demand payment
by debit card, credit card or wire transfer.
The IG’s office started receiving complaints in August. Immigrants were the primary target,
the IG’s office said. But the scam has become more widespread.” Associated Press
Anthony J. (Tony) Palermo CCPS
Community Relations Specialist
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
255 E. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
anthony.palermo@yavapai.us
928.777.7223
Anthony Palermo, YCSO, sharing an article by Scott Orr in The Daily Courier with area:
PRESCOTT, Arizona – Two recent reports suggest that Arizonans, and Prescott-area residents in particular, have been victimized by scams in large numbers, especially online versions, and could be susceptible to them in the future as well.
One report, the Federal Trade Commission’s 2013 “Consumer Sentinel Network Databook,” pegs Prescott as number two in the nation for the number of fraud complaints per capita, and lists Arizona in the top 10 for states making fraud complaints.
The other report, “Caught in the Scammer’s Net,” produced by AARP, was issued this month and looked at the most likely victims of online fraud in our state, based on a survey of 962 people.
“It is the combination of online behaviors and life experiences that put a person at greatest risk of being scammed,” AARP Arizona’s Cynthia Fagyas said.
Those behaviors include opening emails from unknown sources, clicking on pop-up ads, and signing up for free trial offers.
Victims were more likely to have had bad things happen to them, such as the loss of a job, reports of feeling isolated, being concerned about debt, or experiencing a negative change in financial status.
“Clicking on a pop-up or signing up for a free trial offer online, by itself, doesn’t guarantee you’ll be scammed,” David Mitchell, AARP Arizona State Director, said. “But if the online engagement occurs when you’re feeling lonely or have just lost your job, it could spell a perfect opportunity for a scammer.”
Yavapai County Sheriff’s spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said Craigslist is also a location where criminals may hang out.
“Make sure the person you are dealing with is legitimate. Consider meeting in a public place to arrange a transaction. Do not blindly give personal info unless you know who you are dealing with,” he said. “We have had many issues related to Craigslist fraud in the Prescott area.”
A whopping 79 percent of Arizona Internet users told the AARP that they’re concerned about being ripped off while online, Fagyas said, but when given a 10-question quiz, they were only able to answer half the questions about online safety correctly.
And while nearly all of the people surveyed said they were worried about providing personal information over the Internet, almost a quarter of them admitted they’ve never changed the password on their personal email account or banking websites.
Not all schemes to grab your money take place online. A telephone-based scam that has been seen in Prescott over the last few months is one in which a person claiming to be from Arizona Public Service demands money for an allegedly overdue electric bill, threatening to cut off service if it isn’t paid immediately.
The immediacy is the key. Customers who have taken the time to check with the company have learned that they do not owe any money. Some who simply reacted to the calls lost money.
“Never assume anyone who initiates a call to you regarding some type of business/ banking transaction is legitimate – especially if they’re asking for personal information,” D’Evelyn said. “Hang up and call the business directly.” using a commonly published number.”