Recently, the Indiana State Police Bremen Post has been contacted on an almost daily basis by concerned citizens that have almost become victims of scams or individuals who had loved ones that were scammed.
In response to the frequent calls, ISP Bremen Post Public Information Officer Ted Bohner issued a press release stating that is important for everyone to talk to their family about these phone scams and to have a plan in place if a scammer calls you or someone you love.
He added that since this has become nothing short of an epidemic, being aware of the common scams is a great first step in protecting yourself from falling victim to one.
One type that is particularly common this time of the year is the “IRS Scam”. This scam is where the caller claims an individual has unpaid taxes and that they need to pay or risk arrest. Many times people are directed to buy prepaid debit cards or wire money.
It’s important to remember that the IRS will communicate via the mail and their representatives would never call you with such a request.
Another popular scam that’s been going around is the “Grandparent Scam”. This scam involves people pretending to be someone’s grandchild saying they need cash for an emergency, such as being in jail or the hospital.
If you receive a call like this and you’re unsure if it’s genuine, ask personal questions to confirm the legitimacy and always verify any type of family emergency with other family members.
The “Lottery Scam” is another one that continues to deceive people. With this one, a call or email informing someone that they’ve won a lottery will come through.
However, it will include a condition which says in order to claim your jackpot you must first pay taxes by sending money, either by wiring funds or sending prepaid debit cards.
One reason scammers are partial to transactions made by prepaid cards or wire transfers is because they are nearly impossible to recover once sent. Always err on the side of caution when someone is requesting that you send them money in this way.
As a reminder, never give out personal information such as date of birth, social security number, or credit card number. Many of scammers use tactics to get individuals to make hasty decisions and they may pressure you or use fear to get your money or personal info.
Officials at ISP say that, ultimately, the best defense against these scams is a well-informed public with a healthy dose of mistrust when receiving an unsolicited phone call or email asking for money, a hasty decision, or personal information.
