Fortuna Police Warn of Scams

Press release from the Fortuna Police:

STOP!

If someone is asking you to donate, lend, or give money, and the request seems a bit unusual, or is from someone who you do not actually know:

Before you withdraw a large amount of money, or buy a cash card …

• • Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.

• • Ask a lot of questions and avoid sharing too much personal information.

• • Don’t allow yourself to be pressured by a sob story or promises of love.

• • Romance scams rank number one in total reported losses: victims report losing $143 million – more than any other consumer fraud.

• • If you meet someone online, you can easily be blinded by how perfect they might seem.

• • Many victims say that the scam started with a Facebook message.

• • Victims are often people who have recently lost a spouse or children.

• • Scammers often identify people who are lonely or vulnerable.

• • The scammer often claims to live, and or work, far away from where the victim resides.

• • Never donate to a charity that you are not familiar with.

• • Never donate to a business venture that you have not researched.

• • Don’t help transfer money for someone who you don’t know; you may unknowingly be laundering money for criminals.

• • No matter how perfect the person seems, if someone that you just met online asks you for money, don’t do it.

• • The best advice is to avoid sharing personal information on social media.