(SALISBURY, Md.) — The Maryland State Police in Salisbury would like to ensure the public is aware of recently reported telephone and computer scams in our area. These criminals are very sophisticated and utilize many techniques to attempt to gain information and access to victim’s finances.
Some of the scams reported include victims receiving telephone calls where they are threatened with arrest or arrest or continued detention of family members if they do not provide money, account numbers or purchase a “re-loadable” gift or credit cards. Another telephone scam includes the victim being called by a “representative of the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.)” and threatened in the same fashion. Other victims have had their computers infected with a computer virus and prompted to take immediate action in order to salvage the computer, which included purchasing up to $2000 in gift cards to pay the company to correct the issue.
These thieves are using scare tactics and sophisticated technology to attempt to take advantage of the public. If you are a senior citizen, or have a family member that is a senior citizen, please be aware and ensure they are aware of these scams so they do not fall victim to them. Never give any personal information over the phone, and only allow a qualified reputable computer technician the ability to repair your computer should it become infected with a virus. Many of these telephone scams are disguising themselves by utilizing local telephone number prefixes.
No reputable company is going to threaten you with arrest or ask you to purchase a pre-paid card to send to them. The public is encouraged to report internet scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center at the web address ic3.gov.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I get a kick out of getting these calls and calling the caller every name under the sun and a few from the underworld.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep them on the line as long as possible to run up their bill from India where they are calling.
My 94 year old mother is just as sharp as ever,but she was always gullible for some reason.I feel like yanking the phone cord out of the wall,but she needs it for emergencies.Why is life so complicated?
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law lost all her money to legit insurance company where a door to door insurance salesman would vidiv every two months to have her increase her policy amount but made sure she checked the block that her family would not be notified of the insurance policy. A big sum so her family would not be bothered with funeral expenses. Well mother in law became I'll and did pay premiums and she was dropped. Guest what the law didn't care. Some of her receipts for insurance premium where written on a scrap of paper. This still goes on today. It is legal. To me it is a scam. Check your aging parents paperwork. Don't let it happen to you.
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