EMAIL
SCAM
12/05/16
The Chillicothe Police Department would like to inform the public of an email scam. A subject emails the victim and identifies themselves as a
"portfolio manager" to a deceased relative. The manager claims to have made investment decisions on behalf of the deceased in the form of shares, bonds and other securities. The manager claims in accordance to Eritrea Financial Regulatory Board, the deceased,
client's money, which could vary in range, would be confiscated in five years if unclaimed. The manager then waits for you to contact them as the legal beneficiary. As always, the Police Department would like to remind
its citizens to investigate any claims that seem too good to be true or suspicious.
Scammer Spoofing FBI Phone Number To Fool Victims
The FBI is warning the public about a phone scam that
spoofs, or fraudulently displays, the FBI's real telephone number on the
victim's caller ID. The latest version of the scam claims the victims are being investigated by the FBI for back taxes. In some cases,
the scammers are calling victims in Western Missouri and spoofing the real phone numbers of FBI offices in Eastern Missouri.
Last October, the FBI issued a news release warning the public about a phone scam using spoofed FBI phone numbers to target
college students claiming the victim was delinquent on student loans, taxes, or even parking tickets. Be advised these are old scams
that keep evolving with a new twist. The FBI does not call or e-mail private citizens to demand money or threaten arrest.
Citizens are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI to verify the information with the
Bureau if they are contacted by a caller who says they are with the FBI. The main phone numbers for the FBI in Kansas City is 816-512-8200 and St. Louis is 314-589-2500;
contact information or other FBI field offices can be found at www.fbi.gov.
In similar cases, callers have claimed to be with the IRS, DEA, or another government agency. Be suspicious and verify the
caller's information with the appropriate agency.
If you are a victim of a phone or online scam, you can file an online complaint with the
FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov or by contacting the Chillicothe Police Department at 660-646-2121. As always, never provide your personal information
to someone over the phone or online in which you can't verify their identity.
SCAM ALERT
On January 8, 2016, the Chillicothe Police Department received numerous phone calls from citizens advising they were contacted by phone by an unknown person representing an unknown Technical Support Agency. The unknown person requested computer codes and personal information from the citizens, advising their computers had a virus. The Chillicothe Police Department wants to advise the citizens of Chillicothe to NOT give any personal or computer information to anyone over the phone as this is a SCAM. If you feel your personal information has been compromised, contact the Chillicothe Police Department at
660-646-2121 and monitor your credit report and banking information.
Press Release:
Phone Scam July 2, 2015
The Chillicothe Police Department has received multiple calls recently in reference to a telephone scam where the individual is claiming to be with IRS and/or the Department of Legal
Affairs of the U.S. Treasury. These phone scams are aggressive and
threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents. The individuals are threatening police arrest, deportation, license
revocation and other things. If someone calls unexpectedly claiming to be from the IRS with aggressive threats if you
don't pay immediately, it's a scam artist calling. Phone scams top the list this year because it has been a persistent and pervasive problem for
many taxpayers for many months. Scammers are able to alter caller ID numbers to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake
names and bogus IRS badge numbers. They often leave
"urgent" callback requests. They prey on the most vulnerable people, such
as the elderly, newly arrived immigrants, and those whose first language is not English. Scammers have been known to impersonate
agents from IRS Criminal Investigation as well. These criminals try to scare and shock you into providing personal financial information on the spot while you are off guard.
Don't be taken in and don't engage these people over the phone. They do not want other people knowing what you are talking to them about.
Protect Yourself
- These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private
information. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you.
Do not provide any personal information out over the telephone. The IRS reminds people that they can know pretty easily when a supposed IRS caller is a fake.
Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do. Any one of these five things is a tell-tale sign of a scam.
The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Remember, too, the IRS does not use email, text messages,
or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue involving bills or refunds. For more information on reporting tax scams, go to
www.irs.gov and type
"scam" in the search box. If you have any further questions,
you may contact the Chillicothe Police Department at 660-646-2121 or your local law enforcement agency.
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