RECOGNIZE THE FRAUD. SCAMMERS OFTEN USE FEAR TO GET YOU TO DO SOMETHING. AND IN THIS CASE, A MILLERSVILLE MAN LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED. POLICE SAY THE VICTIM GOT A CALL FROM SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE AN OFFICER OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND THAT A VEHICLE FOUND IN TEXAS WAS REGISTERED IN HIS NAME AND WAS TIED TO FRAUDULENT BANKING ACTIVITIES. THE VICTIM WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO A DEA AGENT WHO TOLD HIM HE HAD A WARRANT OUT FOR HIS ARREST AND HE SHOULD TRANSFER ALL OF HIS MONEY OUT OF HIS ACCOUNT INTO A DEA ACCOUNT. THAT WOULD BE HELD UNTIL ITS INVESTIGATION WAS COMPLETE. THE VICTIM THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM WHO HE BELIEVED WAS THE MILLERSVILLE BOROUGH POLICE, WHO CONFIRMED THE WARRANT. THE VICTIM PUT MONEY INTO A BITCOIN ACCOUNT. HE WAS THEN TOLD TO GO GET MORE MONEY AND DEPOSIT IT VIA BITCOIN. THIS TIME HE GOT A CALL FROM WHO HE BELIEVED TO BE A LANCASTER CITY POLICE, TELLING HIM HE WOULD BE ARRESTED IF HE DID NOT COMPLY. THE VICTIM NOT ONLY LOST $20,000, BUT ALSO PERSONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING HIS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. AS WE’VE TOLD YOU IN THE PAST, YOU ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF LEGAL ACTION THROUGH A PHONE CALL. IF YOU DO GET A CALL FROM SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE FROM A FEDERAL AGENCY, HANG UP AND CALL BACK ON A TRUSTED NUMBER. AND REMEMBER, JUST BECAUSE YOUR CALLER ID SAYS A CALL IS FROM A POLICE AGENCY, IT MAY NOT BE. SCAMMERS CAN SPOOF OR MAKE IT APPEAR THAT THE CALL IS COMING FROM A LEGITIMATE NUMBER, WHICH IS WHAT POLICE SAY HAPPENED THIS TIME. AND BE WARY OF PAYING A FINE USING BITCOIN. SUSA
Lancaster County man loses more than $20K in scam
A Lancaster County man lost more than $20,000 in a scam.Millersville police said the victim got a call from someone claiming to be an officer of the Federal Trade Commission, who told him a vehicle found in Texas was registered in his name and was tied to fraudulent banking activities.The victim was then transferred to someone claiming to be a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. That person told him he had a warrant out for his arrest. He was instructed to transfer all of his money out of his account and into a DEA account that would be held until an investigation was complete.Next, the victim received a call from a person he believed was a member of the Millersville Borough Police Department, who confirmed the warrant.The victim put money into a Bitcoin account. He was then told to go get more money and deposit it via Bitcoin.This time, he got a call from what he believed was Lancaster City police, telling him he would be arrested if he did not comply.The victim not only lost thousands of dollars but also personal information, including his Social Security number.Avoid becoming a victimHere are the red flags to look out for:As News 8 On Your Side has told you before, you are not notified of legal action through a phone call. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from a federal agency, hang up and call back on a trusted number.Even though your caller ID could show a call is from a police agency, it may not be. Scammers can spoof the call, or make it appear it’s coming from a legitimate number. It’s what police say happened in this situation.Be wary of paying a fine using Bitcoin.
A Lancaster County man lost more than $20,000 in a scam.
Millersville police said the victim got a call from someone claiming to be an officer of the Federal Trade Commission, who told him a vehicle found in Texas was registered in his name and was tied to fraudulent banking activities.
The victim was then transferred to someone claiming to be a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. That person told him he had a warrant out for his arrest. He was instructed to transfer all of his money out of his account and into a DEA account that would be held until an investigation was complete.
Next, the victim received a call from a person he believed was a member of the Millersville Borough Police Department, who confirmed the warrant.
The victim put money into a Bitcoin account. He was then told to go get more money and deposit it via Bitcoin.
This time, he got a call from what he believed was Lancaster City police, telling him he would be arrested if he did not comply.
The victim not only lost thousands of dollars but also personal information, including his Social Security number.
Avoid becoming a victim
Here are the red flags to look out for:
- As News 8 On Your Side has told you before, you are not notified of legal action through a phone call. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from a federal agency, hang up and call back on a trusted number.
- Even though your caller ID could show a call is from a police agency, it may not be. Scammers can spoof the call, or make it appear it’s coming from a legitimate number. It’s what police say happened in this situation.
- Be wary of paying a fine using Bitcoin.
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