Full Notification

The Edison Scam - Imposters call business owners or residents saying they are past due on their electricity bill and must pay immediately using a prepaid cash card, such as “green dot.” The reason the caller wants payment in the form of prepaid credit cards is because of the ease of transferring money – all they need is the card number and no ID is required upon use.

The IRS Back Tax Scam - The caller identifies themselves as an IRS representative and leaves a message insisting, in a threatening manner, that the victim call back and this is a time sensitive matter. The victim returns the call and is accused of tax evasion and money laundering. The victim is advised that this can be settled “out of court” on the telephone as they speak, and they come up with a fee, that must be wire transferred – using the victim’s bank account. In some instances the caller also requires the payment be made in the form of a prepaid credit card, again such as “green dot.” The caller may even threaten to have the local Law Enforcement Agency come out and arrest the victim.

The Attorney General Office Scam (similar to the IRS Scam) – The caller leaves a message instructing the victim to call back regarding a bank fraud in which the victim is the suspect. The victim is told to pay restitution in the form of green dot money pack or the police would be sent out to arrest the victim.

 Important: In the event someone shows up at your door claiming to be an Officer and wanting payment, call your local Law Enforcement Agency or the Agency they claim to represent and verify they are in fact an Officer.

The Cryptolocker Ransomware Scam – A CryptoLocker attack may come from various sources; one such is disguised as a legitimate email attachment. When the victim downloads the attachment a virus then encrypts files on the victim’s computer. A display message appears offering to decrypt the data if a payment (through either “Bitcoin” or via “green dot”) is made by a stated deadline.

The Free Medical Alert System Scam (targets older adults primarily) - These are Robocall messages telling the victim that they will be provided a free medical alert system, or that someone purchased this as a gift for them. Upon callback, they learn they will have to pay a fee for activation.
According to the Federal Trade Commission:
“The FTC warned people last summer about illegal prerecorded sales calls from scammers pitching safety alert systems for older adults. And now, the FTC and the Florida Attorney General have acted to temporarily halt and freeze the assets of an Orlando-based operation that not only used illegal robocalls to pitch so-called “free” medical alert devices to older consumers, but also lied about the cost and quality. The FTC and the Florida AG are working to permanently ban the operation from illegally pitching their products and to get refunds for victims.

The scammers lied when they said the devices had been bought for consumers by a relative or friend. Really? Don’t you think your friends and relatives would tell you if they bought you a gift, especially if you have to pay an activation and monthly monitoring fee? I know mine would. The scammers continued their lies when they told people they wouldn’t be charged anything before the devices were activated. In fact, the scammers started charging people who agreed to receive the system immediately, regardless of whether the system had been activated or not. Makes me so mad I could spit nails. A lot of the victims were elderly, live alone, and have limited or fixed incomes.

So here’s a free and valuable message: When you get an illegal robocall, hang up the phone. Don't press “1” to speak to a live operator. And don't press any other number to get off the list. It will probably only lead to more robocalls. Report your experience to the FTC online at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.

If you’re interested in buying a medical alert device for yourself, a family member or a friend, the FTC has information on that, too. Check out Personal Emergency Response Systems: Health Information for Older People.”

Remember:
•Never give out personal information to anyone over the phone.
•Any call that demands immediate payment is suspicious, especially if it requires the funds be wired or placed on a prepaid card.
•Customers suspecting a fraudulent call should ask for the caller’s name, department, and business phone number. If the caller refuses, terminate the call.
•Verify your account balance by calling the respective company directly.

Emergency or Crime in Progress: 9-1-1
Dispatch (For a Report or suspicious activity): (714) 573-3225