May 23, 2007
Fraud, Scams and Deceit Program
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Attica Police Chief Mr. Gene Snoeberger and Officer Mr. Ed Dunell presented the program for the Attica-Williamsport Rotary club on Wednesday, May 24th. The officers program centered on the many Internet and mail scams, fraud and deceit that happens in our area.
The most common types of scams found locally are ones involving lottery, home improvement and e-mail deceptions. Police chief Mr. Snoeberger detailed what each category of the scams involved and what to look out for.
Lottery Scams involve a mailed proposal that states you have won a huge lottery sum, usually in the amounts of $175,000 and up. You are asked to cash a check included in the announcement and then personally return a substantial amount back to the clearinghouse that notified you of your lottery winnings. Once you send the check amount through Western Union, the scammers tell you will receive the balance of your so-called winnings. What certainly happens is that the original good faith check bounces and the amount you forwarded via Western Union from your bank account, is now lost money. Ultimately, you never receive the balance of the big lottery amount and you aren’t able to retrieve the Western Union money. The scammers get that good faith money and you will be out of approximately $3,000.
Nigerian Money Scams are the second most common scams that happen. Here, you are usually contacted via the Internet and it comes with a real sad story. You are asked to help out this poor soul who has lost a family member, needs a plane ticket home, needs bus fare, etc. You are asked to help them cash a money order (or check) of a substantial amount and for you help, they tell you to keep $100-$200 for your trouble. Seems like a good deal? What happens is that money order or check is bad but when you wire that poor soul the money from your account via Western Union, a few days later, you finds out the original check is bad and you are out the amount you sent. Recovering money sent via Western Union is not possible.
Next is the Nigerian Check Scam. Perhaps you are selling something on the Internet and you sell the item. A check is sent and it is for a substantial amount over the selling price. For example, a $100 item is sold but a check arrives at your home for $2,000. A sad story usually comes with any inquiry and you are asked to cash the check and wire the balance immediately, less $100 extra dollars for your trouble via Western Union.
Home improvement scams always seem to follow the season of the year (spring & summer) and after a large storm that has done damage to your area. Someone will contact you, usually personally at your door selling driveway asphalt, roofing or tree trimming services. These scammers will ask for payment upfront before work is done and shy away if asked for references or if you delay making a decision. Often if you do engage these people to do work, they use substandard materials to do the job and often, do not finish the project. Others will leave a large amount of debris for you to clean up and/or charge you for materials not used.
Officer Snoeberger said that what citizens need to watch out for is the following clues in not being scammed. If anyone approached you and you do not personally know them, beware. Most scammers tend to be from out of state, they come to you – you did not seek them out - and they demand full payment upfront before any work is done.
There are ways one can avoid being a victim of these types of scams. Always check references. Only pay 1/3 of the payment fees upfront, the balance to be paid when the job is completely and satisfactorily done. Use only well-known contractors and be very leery of any contractor that comes to you unsolicited.
Law enforcement agencies can only help in fraud scams if it involves monies in excess of $100,000. The best way to foil the scammers is to educate the public as to what kind of scams are out there and how to effectively avoid them.
What can you personally do to avoid and stop these scammers? Do not open any e-mails from anyone you do not personally know. Not only will you avoid getting hooked into a scam, you will also avoid any potential virus problems. Be leery of out of state contractors. Use good common sense when dealing with people and trust your instincts. Ask yourself a very valuable question: “Would I send a lot of money to someone I don’t know?” Lastly and the most import clue to help one avoid being involved in a scam is the golden rule ---
If it sounds too good to be true – IT IS!
Officer Snoeberger asked everyone to check out the websites of the Indiana Attorney General - www.indianaconsumer.com and the FTC – Federal Trade Commission for more information regarding scams. He also stressed if anyone suspects any scam going on to immediately contact the Attica Police Department at 762-2449 and if it involves the post office, contact Post Master Sandy White at the Attica Post Office. Lastly, Office Snoeberger asked all to keep an eye on our elderly neighbors; often they are the first targets of these types of scams.
Thanks to Kathy Poston for this article