Phone Scammers using fake local ID numbers

***WARNING***

Phone Scammers using fake local ID numbers

The Burrillville Police Department has recently been made aware of a telephone scam where the suspected scammer is using local area codes and exchange numbers, the (401) area code, 567, and 568 exchange numbers to entice residents to answer the incoming call.

In the most recent attempt to scam a local resident the caller used a number which through caller ID identified the call as coming from the Burrillville Town Hall.  The caller then demanded the homeowner pay her credit card debt over the phone.  The resident realized that something was wrong and hung up the phone.  She then contacted the Town Hall and spoke to a town employee there.  The telephone number which showed up on the resident’s caller ID was in fact a fax number used by the town.  Fortunately no personal information was given over the phone and no money was lost.

Please use caution when someone contacts you over the phone demanding a bill be paid or money be given over the phone.

Here are 10 ways to avoid being scammed.

Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.  

Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.

Don’t believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.

Don’t pay upfront for a promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear. 

Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true for reloadable cards like MoneyPak, Reloadit or Vanilla. Government offices and honest companies won’t require you to use these payment methods.

Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.

Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.

Be skeptical about free trial offers. Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don’t recognize.

Don’t deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for repaying the bank.

Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/scams. Get the latest tips and advice about scams sent right to your inbox.

Lastly, if you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the Burrillville Police Department at 568-6255 and speak with an officer.  We are more than welcome to assist in answering any questions you have.  Also feel free to click the links above for more information in regards to telephone scamming.

Col. Stephen J. Lynch

Chief of Police

Burrillville Police Department