Watch Out for Scams, Warns Arcata Police

Scam Alert feature iconPress release from Arcata Police:

In light of recent activity, the Arcata Police Department would like to make the public aware of on-line and phone based frauds circulating in our community.  Scams come in many different varieties and through various sources such as text messages, emails, on-line advertisements, direct calls or even a stranger asking to use your cell phone.  They generally consist of the perpetrator offering a major prize or gift requiring minor payment and personal information, threatening prosecution for crimes if money is not received, sending an alert that one’s social security number has been compromised, offering a home for rent that is not their own, or borrowing your phone to access your money transfer applications or other private data.

In order to steal a victim’s identity, the scammer will often request the victim to fill out an application divulging personal data and to return it via email, or will simply ask the victim to relay their personal information over the phone or through a text message.  No legitimate business should ever ask for personal information such as social security numbers, date of birth or bank account information to be transmitted via email or text.  No legitimate law-enforcement entity will ever ask you for money in lieu of prosecution.  Be cautious of rentals listed at a price point that is too good to be true, where the poster is not available to show the property, or cannot provide photos of the interior, or notes there is no reason to contact the real estate or property management agency.  All of these are attempts to steal your personal data.  The bottom line is, never give money or personal information to unverified sources.

If you are the victim of or suspect a local scam, please contact the Arcata Police Department at 707-822-2424, or the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the fraud is occurring.  Many of these crimes originate over-seas and can be difficult for local law enforcement to prosecute.  International frauds can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx.

For additional information on current scams, you can access the Better Business Bureaus’ on-line Scam Tracker feature at https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/16758-bbb-tip-phishing-scams

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Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳All the new things they learn in prison. Why keep on getting busted for the same crime, the don’t hand out the 25 to life anymore but they will get you for repetitive criminal activity which will draw almost the same amount of time so why not look like you’ve gone the straight and narrow and learn a new trade. 🖖

Orange Sunshine
Guest
Orange Sunshine
4 years ago

From prisons in India or Pakistan, Willie? I get scam calls on average three times a day. 90% of the callers have an accent that’s from somewhere in the near east. Some have been from the Yucatan in Mexico where they tell me I’ve won some kind of vacation package. The first question I ask them is “Where were you born?” They hang up immediately .
Two weeks ago I received a call from an “officer” from the Social Security Administration telling me that my benefits would be cut off if I didn’t respond. They were stupid enough to leave a phone number, so I called them back, and called them back, and called them back. They got more irate with each redial to the point where they would just immediately start swearing.
Then I reported it to the SSA. Then I called the Eureka PD to let them know that there was a phone scam that actually had a real phone number. The woman that I spoke with was dismissive until I let her know that it was their job to look into these things so that they could at least warn the public; which they never did. I don’t know if Arcata PD is any better. I sure hope they are because some elderly do fall for these scams.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
4 years ago

Why even answer? If it’s a number I don’t recognize then I let it go straight to voicemail. If it’s important then they’ll leave a message and I’ll call back. If not then I block the number. Easy peasy.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
4 years ago
Reply to  NoBody

And answering let’s them know that they reached a valid number, so your number now gets sold to other scammers. Don’t answer numbers you don’t know!

Orange Sunshine
Guest
Orange Sunshine
4 years ago

Sorry, Guest. After reporting the number to the Social Security fraud page, the number was no longer in service.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Thanks.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳A computer or simple devices you by online can give any phone number you please even your neighbors. 🖖 Half the scams you receive are right from your own neighborhood.

humboldtfrog
Guest
humboldtfrog
4 years ago

why report a crime the police can do nothing about? This activity happens all day long, every day in Humboldt, and I bet there’s not one single case of a phone/internet scammer getting busted by any law enforcement agency, ever

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
4 years ago

If the number’s not in your contacts list don’t answer it.

Orange Sunshine
Guest
Orange Sunshine
4 years ago
Reply to  Life is Good

Does your answering machine know that?