MONROE - Telephone scams are a perennial problem, but scammers are continually finding new ways to take advantage of the unwary.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said certain cases of telephone fraud have become more sophisticated than the typically "Nigerian Prince" scam.
"We had one recently that was claiming to be a deputy for the Dane County Sheriff saying that you didn't show up for jury duty and now you owe a $100 fine," Kelley said. "Of course, obviously you wouldn't be on a jury in Dane County if you live in Green County. But I understand they've been getting a lot of these calls in Dane County, too."
Kelley said the Monroe Police Department receives reports of phone scams about once per week. The cases vary from false IRS calls to claims of having won the lottery to other, more personal scams.
"We had one that claimed to be from a person's grandson or granddaughter, saying they had been arrested and they needed to pay bail," Kelley said.
Furthermore, scammers can make use of software or online services that allow callers to falsify caller ID info, referred to as caller ID spoofing.
"The technology is not hard to use," said Tom Moczynski, chief deputy for the Green County Sheriff. "And there's not really much we can do about it."
Kelley said it is nearly impossible for law enforcement to catch phone scammers, as the calls are forwarded through a string of numbers, making them effectively untraceable. The origin of the calls is also often in a foreign country, one that may not have law enforcement treaties with the United States.
"Really, all we can do is educate folks," Kelley said.
Moczynski said people should trust their instincts if they think a phone call seems suspicious - "If the IRS says they will contact law enforcement if you don't pay, well, that's not how they actually operate," he said.
"I can't think of any business where you'd get a phone call first," Kelley said. "You'll get a written notice, they'll ask you to come down to the office, something. No business is going to ask for your banking information over the phone."
Kelley urged people to be suspicious - "I get it, you're on a fixed income and it'd be great to win $3 million, but you never entered the Swedish lottery" - and ask questions to suspicious callers and, above all, never give personal information to unknown callers over the phone.
Although Kelley said he only hears about an average of one successful scam in a given year, he added that people wouldn't do it if it wasn't profitable.
About a year ago, Kelley said, a scammer called a Monroe citizen back, and a police officer was on the other end.
"The officer told him that his scam wouldn't be successful," Kelley said. "The other guy swore at him and said "I've already made $10,000 today, you think I'm afraid of you?'"
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said certain cases of telephone fraud have become more sophisticated than the typically "Nigerian Prince" scam.
"We had one recently that was claiming to be a deputy for the Dane County Sheriff saying that you didn't show up for jury duty and now you owe a $100 fine," Kelley said. "Of course, obviously you wouldn't be on a jury in Dane County if you live in Green County. But I understand they've been getting a lot of these calls in Dane County, too."
Kelley said the Monroe Police Department receives reports of phone scams about once per week. The cases vary from false IRS calls to claims of having won the lottery to other, more personal scams.
"We had one that claimed to be from a person's grandson or granddaughter, saying they had been arrested and they needed to pay bail," Kelley said.
Furthermore, scammers can make use of software or online services that allow callers to falsify caller ID info, referred to as caller ID spoofing.
"The technology is not hard to use," said Tom Moczynski, chief deputy for the Green County Sheriff. "And there's not really much we can do about it."
Kelley said it is nearly impossible for law enforcement to catch phone scammers, as the calls are forwarded through a string of numbers, making them effectively untraceable. The origin of the calls is also often in a foreign country, one that may not have law enforcement treaties with the United States.
"Really, all we can do is educate folks," Kelley said.
Moczynski said people should trust their instincts if they think a phone call seems suspicious - "If the IRS says they will contact law enforcement if you don't pay, well, that's not how they actually operate," he said.
"I can't think of any business where you'd get a phone call first," Kelley said. "You'll get a written notice, they'll ask you to come down to the office, something. No business is going to ask for your banking information over the phone."
Kelley urged people to be suspicious - "I get it, you're on a fixed income and it'd be great to win $3 million, but you never entered the Swedish lottery" - and ask questions to suspicious callers and, above all, never give personal information to unknown callers over the phone.
Although Kelley said he only hears about an average of one successful scam in a given year, he added that people wouldn't do it if it wasn't profitable.
About a year ago, Kelley said, a scammer called a Monroe citizen back, and a police officer was on the other end.
"The officer told him that his scam wouldn't be successful," Kelley said. "The other guy swore at him and said "I've already made $10,000 today, you think I'm afraid of you?'"