Monday, April 2, 2007

Scammers gearing up for the Springtime Rush!

Spring is in the air and Telemarketing scams “Want your hard earned money!”

Don’t get fooled by slick talking telemarketers or promotional campaigns that you may receive by regular mail or email.

Remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

There are all sorts of ways that scammers devise to try and get your money from you. Some of them might be telling you they want your help distributing funds to charities. Some of them might pray on your need for money with the promise of money or prizes. And others may come disguised as legitimate jobs in which they promise sums of money for you while working from the comfort of your own home.

The scammers out there never run out of ways to try and separate you from your cash.

It always seems that at this time of year the Elliot Lake Seniors Issues Office located at the East Algoma OPP Detachment in Elliot Lake receives an increase in calls about different types of scams being introduced to the public. Here are some recent ones that citizens should look out for when answering the phone or opening their mail.

“Congratulations you have one a trip all you have to do is press #9 on your phone…” Inevitably the person you talk to will try to sell you some sort of product or try to get some type of personal information from you. Just hang up.

“Hello I am from such and such bank and we are confirming your personal information can you provide me some personal information…” If you are not convinced that this is a legitimate call, tell the person you will contact your local bank
branch to make sure the information is needed. Also be wary of receiving emails requesting you click on a link that will bring you to the banks website so they can confirm your personal information. This is known as “phishing”. The website you click on is not the official bank or credit card site but a very good replica. Your bank will not attempt to update your information in this manner!

Nigerian 419 Scams

A scam that comes in many different forms and has been around for years is known as the Nigerian 419 Scam. This scam takes on many different variations but is always done to get money from the victim. It usually comes in some type of mail form (email or letter). The unknown person tries to get your assistance removing large sums of money out of the country where the letter originates. The reason given is due to some sort of family death or tragedy. The person contacting you will put you in contact with alleged government or banking official who will provide you with the info you need to assist them in transferring the large sum of money. For assisting them they promise to provide you with a certain percentage of the money. All they require is banking information from you and then “bribe” money for the custom officials… WRONG!

The lure of quick and easy money is always what is used to drag you into their web, don’t respond to these types of requests.

Foreign Lottery Scams

There is also the foreign Lottery scam that tells you your email address or name was attached to a number in the Spanish or some other foreign Lottery …and you’ve won! All they need is your banking information and/or money to pay for the release on the funds…”WRONG!”… The only thing this letter is good for is lining a bird’s cage!

Earn Money while working at home scams

Also be very leery of ads in newspapers promising you large sums of money to work at home doing mailings or other tasks that may include using your computer. Often these mailings or emails are part of a larger scam, for the most part you participate in unwittingly, but nevertheless you become part of a larger fraudulent scheme.

Overpayment Scams

The "earn money while working at home scam" is usually what is known as an “Overpayment Scam”. Someone contacts you and/or you may contact a company regarding an advertisement for employment. Your job is to mail out mailings or envelopes and you are provided with envelopes with these recipients name and address. You may not be party to what is in these envelopes. Inside however are cheques for large sums of money in which the scammers have already informed the victims (the recipients of the letters) they are going to receive. The victims receive these cheques and deposit them into their bank accounts and return a portion of the money to the original requester keeping some money as payment for their trouble. Again the excuses used to why the victim will perform this type of service varies by the scammer, and for the most part may sound reasonable or legitimate to the victim. In 2 weeks however the cheques they thought were legitimate have now either been returned with insufficient funds or are found to be stolen from some legitimate company. The victim is then out the money.

It is impossible to relay all the different types of methods that scammers use but again if it sounds too good to be true it usually is. The East Algoma OPP and The Seniors Issues Office would like to remind you not to give out personal information, especially when you are not the one initiating the contact. If in doubt contact authorities including banks, police or the Seniors Issues Office when you receive these types of contact to prevent becoming the next victim.

Any possible scams can be reported to PhoneBusters in North Bay
at 1-888-495-8501

Remember not all Telemarketers or mailings you receive are scams.

If you think something doesn’t sound right or looks right, and you are suspicious do not participate!

Don’t think that it can’t happen to you. IT CAN! But only if you let it…!


ARE YOU MISSING YOUR MAZDA?

Heyden, Ont.,

Sault Ste Marie OPP have discovered a burned out shell of a car in the middle of the bush.

Yesterday afternoon OPP in Sault Ste Marie received information that a car was discovered burned out on an isolated bush trail in Aweres Township north of Sault Ste Marie. Officers attended the scene to discover only the charred metal shell of the car was left. It is believed that the car was a two door Mazda with standard transmission.

Are you missing your Mazda? Did you see someone bombing around your neighbourhood this weekend in a Mazda that they normally didn’t have and now don’t have?

Call the OPP or call Crime Stoppers with your information. Your tidbit of information may be what is needed to let the rightful owner of the car know what happened to their vehicle.