From: TCSO
*Phone Scam Warning*
In the past few days, at least one local business and several individuals have been victimized by phone scammers posing as business representatives attempting to gain banking/credit card information from local paying advertisers.
The individual(s) would advise the legitimate paying advertiser that there was a problem with collection of payment, and then would attempt to solicit personal and/or business banking information. In some cases, victims were given phone numbers to call to verify. Each number was of course bogus.
Using computer technology, the scammers are able to mask their phone number to show a phone number similar or exactly like a local phone number. Both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office have been made aware of the scam attempts and this incident is under investigation.
This is a frequent tactic of criminals today. These phone scammers pose as business representatives and/or bill collectors call and insist members are delinquent on their bill or that due to payment history a new credit card information is required.
Legitimate business representatives will never ask for or require pre-paid cards for payments. They will never demand personal information such as driver’s license number, social security numbers over the phone.
Scammers are almost impossible to track down and even harder to stop. Together we can stop them from succeeding by spreading awareness of growing phone scams and learning how to spot a scammer.
Members who think they are being contacted by a phone scammer should hang up and call local law enforcement immediately.
Take steps to protect yourself:
• If a caller claims to be from your utility company and you are pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up and call the customer service number on your utility bill for information.
• Never provide your Social Security Number, credit card number, or banking information to anyone who calls you, regardless of whom they claim to be representing.
• Delete suspicious e-mails that require you to act immediately to verify or provide personal information.
• Delete any e-mails from utilities/companies with whom you’re not a customer.
• Do not respond to suspicious e-mails. Responding often results in even more spam and scam attempts directed at you.
• Think safety first, always! Do not give in to high pressure tactics for information over the phone or in person.
