This page is intended to assist businesses, financial institutions, and individuals in recognizing potential victims of fraud. The Upper Arlington Police Division can be contacted at any time there is suspected fraud, at 614-459-2800.
Sweepstakes Scams:
The scam begins with a phone call or a notice, by mail or email, telling the victim that they won something. An indication that this may be a scam is when the victim is asked to send money to cover something like taxes, “federal insurance” or processing fees in order to claim the “prize.” The scammer will likely request cash, rolled up in a magazine and sent via FedEx or another service.
A legitimate sweepstakes or lottery win almost never requires the subject to send money to get money. If someone asks a victim to do this, more than likely they did not win anything.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The scammers are betting on the possibility that the victim is so excited about winning, they ignore the randomness of this good fortune and will pay them because they want the prize. Be on the lookout for large cash withdrawals with no good explanation.
Jury Duty Scams:
The scammer will pose as a deputy sheriff of a local sheriff’s office in the civil division. They will contact the victim to demand payment by gift card because the victim “did not show up for jury duty.” The scammer will keep the victim on the phone during this process to ensure the victim does not do their research and contact the sheriff’s office directly. They will demand immediate purchase of the gift cards to be read over the phone. The victim should hang up on the scammer and contact the police to alert them of the scam. Be on the lookout for confused victims on the phone purchasing large amounts of gift cards.
Relative in Jail Scams:
The scammer will contact a family member posing as an attorney for a relative, stating the relative is in jail and bond is needed immediately. They will convince the victim to provide gift cards or cash to get the relative out of jail. They will reference bogus codes and charges that the relative was arrested for, and most of the time they make it sound very serious. Be on the lookout for nervous behavior, and large cash withdrawals without explanation.
Computer Scams:
The scammer will contact the victim advising their computer has been “hacked,” needs a firewall installed or has malware and they need to pay the scammer in gift cards for it to be “unlocked” or for the virus to be removed. Even if the victim has legitimate antivirus software, the company will not contact them for this type of work and demand gift cards.
Check Deposits & Wire Money:
The scammer will send a check to the victim with an amount over the dollar amount that was agreed upon for the purchase of an item. The scammer will ask the victim to deposit the check and send the remaining funds to the scammer via gift card/ cash for reimbursement. The check will turn out to be fraudulent, and the victim will be out of funds. Be aware of out-of-state checks and verify with the bank if the victim states they need to refund the source.
Church Worshipper Scam:
A suspect posing as a pastor requests parishioners to purchase gift cards for them while they are busy in a meeting. Be on the lookout for gift card purchases with this “request.”
What can businesses do to ensure residents do not become victims?
Ask questions when a potential victim purchases large amounts of gift cards. Recognize they may be a scam victim, especially if they are on the phone or have instructions written down on paper. Contact your manager, and call the local police if you suspect a scam. If a victim is withdrawing large amounts of money and makes statements about winning sweepstakes or that they need to pay bail, pay attention and alert management and the police.
Resources:
10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud
FTC Report Fraud
Call 888-382-1222 or go to donotcall.gov to add your name and phone number to the do not call registry
ADAM MOLTER #1280
Police Officer | Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
614-583-5160
ZACHARY SOROSIAK #1369
Police Officer | Community Liaison Officer
614-583-5160