Victim Lost $1,800 in Phone Scam; Sheriff’s Office Offers Tips to Avoid Being Fooled

Scam Alert feature iconPress release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Another phone scam targeting Humboldt County residents has left one victim out over $1,800.

The victim told the Sheriff’s Office that she received a call from someone claiming to be with the Texas Department of Justice, with a matching caller ID coming up on her phone. The scammer told the victim that she was in trouble with the Social Security Department due to someone registering 25 houses in her name in Texas, which she never claimed on her taxes. The scammers also went on to say that in one of those houses law enforcement located 25 pounds of narcotics. The scammer claimed that if the victim hung up the phone she would be arrested and sent to federal prison.

The scammers then reportedly told the victim that in order to rectify the situation she would need to go purchase three Target gift cards and read the card numbers to the scammers. The victim was instructed to not answer any other phone calls or talk to anyone about the call.

Residents across Humboldt County have contacted the Sheriff’s Office reporting a multitude of phone scams, many of which begin with a recorded voicemail claiming to be with Social Security or law enforcement.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that law enforcement and other government agencies will never demand payment in exchange for dropping a warrant or stopping an investigation. Additionally, no government agency will ask you to mail large sums of cash or pay with gift cards or pre-paid money cards.

Remember these tips to help protect yourself from fraud:

1. Spot imposters

Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company with which you do business. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Don’t rely on personal information

Living in the digital age, access to information is easier than ever. Scammers are often able to get their hands on very personal information, providing it to their victims to make their scam look more legitimate. Don’t trust a scammer who is able to provide your personal information. If you followed the above tips and still aren’t sure, call back at a publicly listed number for the organization from which the scammer claims to be or contact your loved one directly.

Report phone scams

Sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s scam alerts at ftc.gov/scamsOpens a New Window..

Learn how to report scams.Opens a New Window.

Resources

Watch: Social Security Phone ScamOpens a New Window.
Listen: Texas DOJ Phone Scam

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21 Comments
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CAROL -
Guest
CAROL -
4 years ago

so sorry you were taken, hopefully by sharing your story you have prevented this from happening to others

He Who Laughs Last
Guest
He Who Laughs Last
4 years ago

I love scammers and survey takers. I simply request that they talk dirty to me for five minutes before I answer their questions. They hang up and they don’t call me back for some reason. One of these days I’ll get lucky though.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

what are you wearing right now? just boots? no socks?

Eldon G. Whitehead
Guest
Eldon G. Whitehead
4 years ago

I have been trying to tell people not to answer these type of phone calls as 99.99-9% are all scammers trying to get you to answer where they can then start their spiel. What I have been doing over the past day, I answer with the spiel of my own that they have contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, fraud division and can I help them. Next thing that I know is them hanging up. Reverse scamming on their part. Try it and see what happens. Only answer if you really know the phone number or name. Most of them comes through as ‘out of area’. Scammers delight. DON’T ANSWER UNLESS YOU KNOW THE PARTY AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE CALLER ID, IT’S WELL WORTH THE COST OF GETTING IT. BE AWARE.

Skeptic
Guest
Skeptic
4 years ago

I have a very hard time believing anyone is that stupid, to think a law enforcement agency accepts gift card payments. C’mon folks.

S
Guest
S
4 years ago

I have had the same call more than 20 times over two days now. I know not to respond.
Most unsolicited calls are scammers. Don’t answer numbers you don’t know!

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago

“Hi, I’m from law enforcement. Pay your fine with a Target gift card.” A fool and his money are soon parted.

Miguel
Guest
Miguel
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

Ditto! Target gift cards, really?

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
4 years ago

I am so sorry those scammers hoodwinked you!!! I just got one of these calls today. The damn cell phones are getting hijacked by a high level of robocalls and unsolicited BS as of the last six months it’s escalated greatly. The “kind” gentleman today was trying to tell me that the IRS was after me. I could hear many people talking in the background and all of them with a seemingly eastern Indian type accent. I just started laughing. I asked for his official IRS ID #. He could not provide it said he did not have that information. I then told him that I was forwarding his number to the police. He went silent and promptly hung up on me. SO RUDE LOL! At least it is Taco Tuesday!
🌮❤🌮❤🌮❤🌮❤🌮❤🌮❤🌮❤🌮🤤

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago

I just tell them to eat a bowl of d!ckz. Sorry, but target gift cards, really? That’s pretty gullible. Sorry it happened

DawnI
Guest
DawnI
4 years ago

I had calls from someone claiming to be from SSA and that I was had charges for drug and other offenses in Texas. I repeatedly told him I had never been to Teaxas so there was no way (i Knew it was all BS – just pulling him along to see where they were going with it).
In the end he heatedly told me SSA was “cancelling my SSA number immediately”, and hung up on me.
They really do come up some wild ideas.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳I stopped real quick by just asking for there ID#. There never suppose to give there name from that legal department of SSI,and they don’t do phone calls. They’ll hang up real quick when you ask for the #.👍🏽

TQM
Guest
TQM
4 years ago

I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in the scammed victim’s head. I’m trying really hard to put myself in their shoes but it ain’t happening. Are they blissfully happy and trusting and innocently naive? Or perhaps they are on some really good drugs?

Dan
Guest
Dan
4 years ago
Reply to  TQM

Its real nice of the Texas Department of Justice to allow me to pay them using Target gift cards. They must really need to do some shopping. Maybe get some office supplies. I wish them the best.

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
4 years ago

We’ve gotten two Social Security calls recently, and one supposedly from Apple claiming my iCloud account was breached this morning.

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
4 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

I got one, too.

Your Gov't will not protect you from scammers. Especially this present Gov't. They are the biggest scammers!!
Guest
Your Gov't will not protect you from scammers. Especially this present Gov't. They are the biggest scammers!!
4 years ago

I even received called I.D. calls from my phone number. Bottomline, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!! answer a call from area code 707 unless you know the number. Never answer a number you do not know. Never answer a number that has an I.D. of SSA, IRS, Apple, a fire department or police department from out side our area (find their number and call them back especially if they leave a voice message). General rule NEVER answer a call from a number you don’t know even if they repeatedly call back. That is a sure sign they are scammers!!

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

wow, that is a little small minded. try and think outside the box a little bit. and why would one need to be scared of answering a phone call? its not like they get anything from you for answering, the only harm they can do to you is if you give them some power

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

Bullshit! Never answer the phone unless you know who’s calling. Let them leave a message and call them back. You’re the small minded one.

Nigerian Prophecy
Guest
Nigerian Prophecy
4 years ago

And remember that social security never calls you in the first place no matter what especially because of scammers.

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
4 years ago

Note to everyone: JUST HANG UP THE GOD DAMN PHONE ON THOSE YOU DON’T KNOW. DO IT NOW!