As long as it’s not broken – don’t fix it. That could be how scammers are approaching their trade as efforts to separate money from their owners still prove profitable after so many years of awareness, especially as their techniques make their crime harder to detect.
Winnebago County has been especially hard-hit, with notices going out every week or two concerning the latest wave seen. Most recently, that wave is populated by callers pretending to be law enforcement officials, currently identified as “Lt. Cook”, but with frequent variants, requesting personal information or payments. They commonly request payment in order to resolve fabricated legal issues, with a sense of urgency added by claiming that there will be legal repercussions such as fines or warrants if immediate action isn’t taken. All of those are “red flags”, but none flies so high on the pole as the inevitable requests that payments be made through gift cards, wire transfers or, the current favorite, through Bitcoin, methods that legitimate agencies will never do.
Law enforcement is now asking people targeted by the scammers to write down the information given, including any “name” and the caller’s number displayed on the phone. They emphasize that personal and financial information should never be given over the phone. Instead, hang up and call your local law enforcement agency directly – especially if you’ve fallen victim.
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