Norwalk Police Dept. warns against phone scams

Submitted by Norwalk Police Dept.

NORWALK, Conn. – The Norwalk Police Department wants to make residents aware of several phone scams that are making the rounds.

With the availability of prepaid debit cards, gift cards, and cash cards, criminals have developed several ways to steal from the public.

• Utility scams: You are contacted by phone by someone pretending to be from a utility company and told an immediate payment must be made by Green Dot Money-Pak or similar type payment or your utility will be cut off. Prevent being a victim: Check your bill and call the utility company directly. Do not transfer or wire money this way.

• Cablevision scam: You are contacted by phone by someone pretending to be from Cablevision and offered a discount in service cost if you send a payment by Green Dot Money-Pak or some similar type payment. Prevent being a victim: Call Cablevision; do not transfer or wire money this way.

• A relative in trouble scam: You are contacted by phone by someone with a story of a relative in trouble, (i.e. accident, arrested, in the hospital, etc.) and some money needs to be sent by Green Dot Money-Pak, Western Union, Money Gram or some similar type payment. Prevent being a victim: Call family members and check the story. Do not transfer or wire money this way.

• IRS scam: You are contacted by phone by someone pretending to be from the IRS and told you owe back taxes to IRS and you are told an immediate payment must be made by Green Dot Money-Pak or similar type payment or you will be arrested. Prevent being a victim: Call the IRS and do not transfer or wire money this way

• Overpayment scam: You advertise something you want to sell, and a potential buyer offers to purchase it. The buyer sends a check for more than the asking price and asks you to wire back the difference. You do, but later the buyer’s check bounces. Prevent being a victim: Do not deposit the check and do not transfer or wire money this way.

• Be suspicious of any caller demanding immediate payment for any reason.

• Never give out your personal or financial information to anyone that calls or emails you unsolicited

• Never wire money, provide debit or credit cards numbers, Green Dot Money-Pak card numbers, or gift card numbers to someone you do not know.

• Utility Companies and Gov. Agencies do not collect money or demand payment this way.

To report attempts to defraud, contact Detective Bill Maloney, CFE Norwalk Police Department, Detective Division, Fraud Investigations Desk, at (203) 854-3186; FAX: (203) 854-3006; email: [email protected]