The Frederick Police Department would like to remind residents to be on the lookout for potential scams...
On 1/15/14, The Frederick Police Department was notified by a local resident of a potential telephone scam in which fraudsters are using the threat of IRS action to defraud victims. The fraudsters, who sometimes manipulate caller ID information, attempt to persuade victims to send money via prepaid credit cards or by wire transfer.
A link to the IRS website’s fraud notification is included below:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
The Frederick Police Department would like to remind residents not to provide personal information over the phone when solicited. Some additional tips to remember from the Federal Trade Commission’s website are:
• Don’t send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer. If you use cash or wire money rather than a credit card in the transaction, you may lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges.
• Keep your credit card, checking account, or Social Security numbers to yourself. Don't tell them to callers you don't know — even if they ask you to “confirm” this information. That's a trick.
• Don’t pay for something just because you’ll get a “free gift.”
• Check out a charity before you give. Ask how much of your donation actually goes to the charity. Ask the caller to send you written informa¬tion so you can make an informed decision without being pressured into it.
• If the offer is an investment, check with your state securities regulator to see if the offer — and the offer or — are properly registered.
• Don’t agree to any offer for which you have to pay a “registration” or “shipping” fee to get a prize or a gift.
• Research unsolicited offers with your consumer protection agency or state Attorney General’s office before you agree to send money.
• Beware of offers to “help” you recover money you have already lost. Callers say¬ing they are law enforcement officers who will help you get your money back “for a fee” are scammers.
• Say “no thanks” and hang up the phone. If you don’t want a business to call you again, say so. If they call back, they’re breaking the law.
• Register your home and mobile phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. This won’t stop all unsolicited calls, but it will stop most. If your number is on the registry and you still get calls, they are likely to be from scammers ignoring the law.
• Report any caller who is rude or abusive, even if you already sent them money. They'll want more. Call 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit ftc.gov/complaint.
Anyone with information regarding potential scams is asked to contact the Frederick Police Department at 301-600-2101.
Author of release: D/Sgt. Joe Hayer at 301-600-1265