August, 2011 - FROM OUR POLICE LIAISON: I am passing this information along in an effort to help educate and perhaps prevent you or someone you care about from being a fraud victim. We have observed a continuation of various types of frauds taking place in Portage and, indeed, across the county, state, and nation.
This week, we took a complaint from an older Portage resident. This gentleman had received a telephone call from a male, calling from Mexico City, claiming to be the grandson of the complainant. This “grandson” claimed he had been in an auto accident and needed $3,800 sent via Western Union. The money was sent. A request for an additional $4,400 was made and also sent via Western Union; however, after reflection, the complainant was able to cancel the transaction and get the $4,400 returned. The complainant is now out $3,800, with little likelihood of getting the money back.
The bottom line is PLEASE be very cautious about ever sending funds off via Western Union unless you are absolutely certain the request is legitimate and you are confident of the recipient! Requests for money to be sent out of the country are especially suspect. February 17, 2011 - Just had another credit card SCAM phone call...this one was on my CELL phone...it was a recording telling me that my Master Card had been "locked"....then said that if I wanted to unlock it press 1....if not, press 2. I hung up. I know that if I had pressed 1 (or even 2) I would have been asked for my card number, name, address, and secret questions, etc. I called my Master Card carrier immediately and spoke to someone there. She said that I did the right thing, hanging up...she said that credit card carriers NEVER call YOU and ask for information....the only time that you're asked for info is when YOU call THEM using the number on the back of the card or on their website. So beware....and no...my card was not locked. I did see a phone number on my caller ID and Googled it...the phone number originated from a business called "Handy Transport" out of Cleveland, TN...I reported that as well. Late January, 2011, I got a call. I'm supposed to be unlisted...they knew my name, which means that this gang evidently is buying lists with names and phone numbers on them that are sold by the underground/blackmarket. The number from the caller, on my caller ID, was very close to my own phone number, which I thought strange.
The gal speaking sounded very calm and professional. She said that her company (never actually mentioned the name) had been hired by Visa and Master Card to contact their better card holders to offer them a lower interest rate...as low as 6.9%. (I said, "That would be nice"), and that if I met the three criteria for for this lower rate, they would lower my rates on any of my Visa or Master Cards that I had. I said, "What's the catch...that sounds too good to be true."
She laughed and said, "Wow...you're sceptical."
I said, "No...just careful. So...what are the three things that I need?"
The three things were 1. Do I have Master Cards and/or Visa Cards with interest rates 14% or higher. 2. Do I owe more than $3000 total and 3. Have I paid my bills on time for the last 6 months.
Although I don't owe $3000 total, I said "yes" anyway, just to see what would happen next.
I did say, "So...how much will I have to pay you people to do this? What's the catch?"
She said, "No catch...there will be NO money from your pockets."
I said, "We'll you're not doing this for free..."
She said, "The fee comes from the 6.9%." (which didn't make sense to me at all.)
I asked her why MC and Visa were doing this...and why hadn't THEY contacted their customers...
She said that the banks have been raising interests rates for the last couple of years, and have decided to reward those of us who are paying our bills on time. She said, "All I have to do is verify that you have the cards and that you qualify. Then I will transfer you to our debt coordinator"....
I thought for a second and then said, "Wait a minute...I am assuming then, that you expect me to give either you or the guy you transfer me to, personal information and also my card numbers over the phone?"
She matter of factly said, "Well..yes...you'll give them to me, so that I can verify that you qualify."
I said, "I don't think so!"
She didn't even argue...she just said, "ok...that's fine." and hung up.
I DID call the police and reported this call in that it was a scam that was evidently new...and the officer with whom I spoke agreed...it was new. He took the phone number that showed on my caller ID, and said that I hadn't given her anything so I didn't need to worry. I told him that I had tried to do a phone number search on the internet but every place I went to wanted $14.95 for the information. One DID show a mapquest map with an arrow pointing to the location...in the Portage, Kalamazoo area, which is where I am located.
I also called the number on the backs of my MC credit cards and let them know. They also took the caller ID number that showed, and thanked me for informing them.. They said that they NEVER hire outside companies to do this sort of thing, and that if they had an offer like that, we'd be approached through reg. mail...not over the phone. This woman was SO convincing that I know a lot of people are going to get sucked in ...BE CAREFUL!!!
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