MONROE - Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley is cautioning residents against disclosing financial information over the phone or via internet.
In the last few days alone, police have received complaints about persons receiving phone calls from callers identifying themselves as an insurance company, demanding a late payment, or callers saying that the individual won a lottery, but needed to send the money for the gift tax first, Kelley said.
"No bank, insurance company or a lottery organization would ask for a person's financial information by phone," Kelley said in a news release. "In most cases, those companies would have your information already if you were a subscriber, and if not, you would receive an official letter asking you to contact them."
He said victims of these scams are often elderly or facing financial hardship. "This is exactly what these scams look for. Never give your information out over the phone," he said..
Other popular scam methods involve the internet. "Your bank would not contact you in this manner unless you set up an online account with them. In those cases, you would then be initiating the communications to manage your account," Kelley warned.
Common scams include e-mails or calls from the Nigerian government, asking the receiver to help hide the assets of that nation in exchange for a large percentage. "First think, how did they find just you, and why wouldn't they approach another country?" Kelley advised.
Another common scam is to tell the prospective victim they have won the Swedish lottery, but need to send some sort of tax payment first, or handling fee. "Ask yourself, did I enter that lottery to begin with?" Kelley said.
In hard financial times, a person should be extra careful to guard bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, even dates of birth, he said. "Legitimate businesses do ask for these numbers, but they don't do so by phone. Be careful on the internet who you give this to. Most computer accounts and vendors do a good job of security, but if there is a question, don't give it."
If a person received a questionable call or e-mail, Kelley said, call the local law enforcement agency.
He also advised following the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
In the last few days alone, police have received complaints about persons receiving phone calls from callers identifying themselves as an insurance company, demanding a late payment, or callers saying that the individual won a lottery, but needed to send the money for the gift tax first, Kelley said.
"No bank, insurance company or a lottery organization would ask for a person's financial information by phone," Kelley said in a news release. "In most cases, those companies would have your information already if you were a subscriber, and if not, you would receive an official letter asking you to contact them."
He said victims of these scams are often elderly or facing financial hardship. "This is exactly what these scams look for. Never give your information out over the phone," he said..
Other popular scam methods involve the internet. "Your bank would not contact you in this manner unless you set up an online account with them. In those cases, you would then be initiating the communications to manage your account," Kelley warned.
Common scams include e-mails or calls from the Nigerian government, asking the receiver to help hide the assets of that nation in exchange for a large percentage. "First think, how did they find just you, and why wouldn't they approach another country?" Kelley advised.
Another common scam is to tell the prospective victim they have won the Swedish lottery, but need to send some sort of tax payment first, or handling fee. "Ask yourself, did I enter that lottery to begin with?" Kelley said.
In hard financial times, a person should be extra careful to guard bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, even dates of birth, he said. "Legitimate businesses do ask for these numbers, but they don't do so by phone. Be careful on the internet who you give this to. Most computer accounts and vendors do a good job of security, but if there is a question, don't give it."
If a person received a questionable call or e-mail, Kelley said, call the local law enforcement agency.
He also advised following the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."