The Catoosa Police Department has seen an increase in telephone and internet generated scams that target not only seniors, but the general population. Below is a brief description of various scams that aim to exploit the unaware and especially the elderly or disabled adults.
ROMANCE SCAM:
In romance scams, a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. The Catoosa Police Department advises you to NEVER send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by telephone. Scammers often prey on individuals late in life, to exploit feelings of loneliness via romance. If you have never met this person face-to-face in real life, it is probably a scam.
GRANDPARENT SCAM:
In grandparent scams, a criminal will create a false storyline to prey on the fears of grandparents. The scammer will call and impersonate a grandchild or other close relative in a crisis situation, asking for immediate financial assistance. Often the imposter claims to have been in an accident or arrested. The scammer may tell the grandparent, “Please don’t let mom or dad know,” and may hand the phone over to someone else posing as a lawyer or bondsman seeking immediate payment. The Catoosa Police Department advises you to immediately hang up and call a trusted loved one to verify if the grandchild is actually in danger. NEVER transfer money, buy gift cards, or withdraw money from your account and send it to someone without first verifying the story or events.
INVESTMENT SCAM:
In investment scams, a criminal will gain the trust of the victim, and dupe them into investing money into fraudulent projects or fictitious assets. These scams typically begin with a victim meeting someone on an online dating website, or through a random unsolicited message online, or via text message. The victim will then be convinced to transfer money to an alleged cryptocurrency investment opportunity recommended by the scammer. The perpetrator may purport that they are from the FDIC or Office of Inspector General, and request that you withdraw large amounts of money from your account, and wire-transfer your funds to an account of their choosing for “safe keeping” or to other “high yield investment opportunities. The Catoosa Police Department advises you to NEVER send money or wire-transfers to someone you have never met face-to-face in person, or for an investment opportunity that was unsolicited which you have not sought out yourself.
ACCOUNT HACK SCAM:
In account hack scams, a criminal will place an unsolicited phone call or text message claiming that they are a representative from your bank and inform you that your bank account has been hacked. They will likely ask you if you made a large unexplained purchase or withdrawal. When you confirm that you did not make the purchase or withdrawal, they will explain that you need to transfer all your money out of your account for “safe keeping.” The scammer will sometimes pressure you not to tell anyone else at the bank, because it may be an “inside job.” The scammer may then have you withdraw your money and personally hand it to someone who will come to your residence for “safe keeping.” The Catoosa Police Department advises you to immediately hang up the phone or ignore text messages and call your bank personally to enquire about any unauthorized purchases or withdrawals.
WARRANT SCAM:
Scammers sometimes send text messages pretending to be from a law enforcement agency, claiming that the recipient has an outstanding arrest warrant. The message may threaten immediate arrest, fines, or court action unless the person pays right away. These messages are designed to create fear and urgency so that people act quickly without stopping to verify the information.
Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not demand payment through text messages, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other unusual payment methods. These scams often instruct victims to send money using gift cards, Bitcoin, or other hard-to-trace methods because it makes the funds nearly impossible to recover. If you receive a message like this, do not respond or send money. Instead, the Catoosa Police Department advises you to delete the message and contact us directly to verify whether there is any legitimate issue.
RED FLAGS:
The Catoosa Police Department seeks to educate citizens on several “red flags” that are present in many scams.
The suspect will often have a foreign accent.
The suspect may use technology to “spoof” a phone number, making the incoming phone call seem like it is coming from a trusted source.
The suspect will often pressure you to “not tell anyone” or “tell the bank you are withdrawing the money for other reasons” such as for a house remodel or inheritance.
The suspect will often pressure you to make withdrawals quickly or want you to “stay on the phone line and not hang up” when they are directing you to withdraw or transfer funds.
The suspect will direct you to buy gift cards.
The suspect will direct you to transfer money into Bitcoin, or place money into Bitcoin ATM machines.
GENERAL WARNINGS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
The Catoosa Police Department has seen an increase in scammers using “money mules” or third-party individuals to meet at inconspicuous places or show up to your residence in person to collect the money. This mule or third-party individual is likely not affiliated with the actual criminal and is being used in the scam to facilitate the transfer of the stolen money into cryptocurrency to be sent overseas.
The Catoosa Police Department advises against transferring large sums of money to someone you have never met in person. Common tactics that scammers use include payment through wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and Bitcoin machines at local convenience stores. Scammers often make the situation seem urgent and use fear tactics to prevent you from hanging up or telling other people.
Many of these scams originate from overseas and are outside the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies. If you have been the victim of a scam, please consider completing a police report with your local jurisdiction, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation at www.ic3.gov
If you live in the corporate city limits of the City of Catoosa, you may file an online report with the Catoosa Police Department by visiting www.catoosapolice.org