BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org
Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Dierks is warning county residents about a scam that has begun to reach local residents.
Dierks said his department has received calls in reference to scam praying on people by trying to get them to send money by Western Union or other means. Dierks stated that while this scam has several variations, the scam basically works with people receiving a telephone call from someone claiming to be the people’s grandchild. The so-called grandchild then tells the people that he or she has been arrested and needs money for bail.
The caller attempts to convince the people that he or she is completely innocent of all alleged charges and that if they could provide some bail money, they can prove their innocence. The so-called grandchild also asks the people to not contact the caller’s parents.
During one case in which the sheriff’s department is investigating, a local couple was contacted by telephone from someone claiming to be their oldest grandson. The couple stated that the caller told them that he had been arrested in Canada on a bogus drug charge and that he needed a large amount of cash wired to him so that he could make bail.
The caller then put a man on the telephone who claimed to be with a Canadian law enforcement agency, telling the couple how to wire the money to a bondsman in Haiti so that their grandson could get out of jail.
Dierks said the local couple told sheriff’s deputies that the scammers were smooth, persuasive and convincing with their story.
In another version of the scam, the caller claiming to be a grandchild tells the people that he or she is stranded without money while on a trip and tries to convince the caller that they need to wire them money.
Dierks reminds all area residents to be wary for scams such as these.
“Should anyone receive a suspicious call or a call similar to these examples, be cautious and avoid giving any personal information to the caller and not send any money until they can verify that the call from the alleged relative is legitimate,” said Dierks.
Dierks advises that if anyone receiving bogus calls or some type of scam to contact the sheriff’s department at (620) 330-1000 or the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division, at (800) 432-2310.
How can you avoid being a victim of a phone scam?
1) If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of offers for free products, claims you won a contest you did not enter, or get-rich quick schemes.
• Take the time to investigate claims. If you think what a stranger is telling you might be true, investigate before giving them personal or financial information. Be sure to verify
their phone number yourself through the phonebook. Don’t simply call the number the
stranger gives you.
• Pay for expensive services, products, or vacation deals with a credit card so fraudulent charges can be disputed.
• Do not wire money to anyone unless you are absolutely sure it is someone you know and trust. Once wire funds are picked up, there is little law enforcement can do.
• When selling something, beware of anyone who wants to overpay and asks you to
reimburse the difference. Even if a check has been cleared for your use, it may still be
identified as counterfeit and you could lose funds you have spent from it.
• Don’t send a check, cash, or money order or give out your account information to anyone insisting on immediate payment.
• Guard credit card information, social security number, and checking account
information as you do the keys to your house. They are the keys to your bank accounts
and your identity. Don’t put this information on driver’s licenses, checks, or give it out to
strangers who ask for it over the phone or at the door.
• Never place bank statements, credit card information or any such sensitive financial or
personal information in the trash without first shredding or otherwise defacing all account
numbers. Do not leave mail in mailbox overnight or on weekends.
• Don’t let anyone rush you into making a decision. Take your time to ask questions and
gather information about the product, contest, company, or charity and ask for written
information to be sent to you. Scam artists typically will not take the time to provide this.
• Register your home and cell phone numbers on the national Do Not Call List. Call toll-free 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), from the number you wish to register
or signup online at www.donotcall.gov.
