Scam artist preying on local residents
A scam artist reportedly is preying on the emotions of St. Joseph families, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Sgt. Sheldon Lyon said that on Tuesday night Troop H headquarters received four phone calls and that the St. Joseph Police Department had received at least one phone call from concerned residents.
The scam happens like this: a resident receives a phone call in Spanish and the caller is asked to press 1 for English. The message says they have information on the resident’s loved one who has been injured in a crash. The resident is told to contact a law enforcement sergeant by entering the star (*) button on their phone, then to enter a long series of numbers.
Mr. Lyon said entering * and then the long series of numbers activates a pay number, which will cost the resident money.
Mr. Lyon said that if a resident is worried a loved one has been injured in an accident to always contact their local law enforcement agency, like the Highway Patrol, who can contact the police department where the accident allegedly occurred to verify if an accident happened.
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Guess what I do if I pick up the phone and hear Spanish?
I hang up!
Let's get the government to create a program that keeps folks pre-occupied, so as not to take part in such scams from sheer boredom. Why isn't the government doing anything about this?
What do we pay them for? They are supposed to protect us from nonsense such as this...
Or is this a hidden government agenda to find out how many Americans are fluent in Spanish?
(removing tongue from cheek)
Posted by 4wildones on August 27, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)I was not told to enter the star button, lucky for me I did not make that call, I called the Highway Patrol to double check as I had asked the guy (who said he was a Missouri State Trooper) for his name and badge number and his office number. They were very helpful at HiPo and told me it was a scam. I called ATT anyway, even though I did not call the number and they said push *73 on your phone because that number they have you call places forwarding on your phone and the *73 will remove it. They also said they can't tell until your bill comes out if you have any calls from that number or not so call the phone company to get it on record so you won't be responsible for the charges if it goes through and also watch your bill closely.
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