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Fraudulent Scams Can Target Anyone From Anywhere

By  //  September 9, 2014

Sheriff Wayne Ivey’s Weekly Crime Tip

This week Sheriff Wayne Ivey wants to warn citizens about scams. Scams can occur in almost any form such as telephone scams, computer scams, texting scams, scams by mail, and even in-person scams. The type of scam also changes almost every day making it more difficult to keep our public well informed about the types of scams occurring in our area. For example one of the biggest scams making its way through Florida is the scam that impersonates a representative from a Utility Company.
This week Sheriff Wayne Ivey wants to warn citizens about scams. Scams can occur in almost any form such as telephone scams, computer scams, texting scams, scams by mail, and even in-person scams. The type of scam also changes almost every day making it more difficult to keep our public well informed about the types of scams occurring in our area. For example one of the biggest scams making its way through Florida is the scam that impersonates a representative from a Utility Company.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Fraudulent Scams have become one of the most problematic crimes we face today because they can target anyone from anywhere. Scams can occur in almost any form such as telephone scams, computer scams, texting scams, scams by mail, and even in-person scams.

scam-alert-180The type of scam also changes almost every day making it more difficult to keep our public well informed about the types of scams occurring in our area.

For example one of the biggest scams making its way through Florida is the scam that impersonates a representative from a Utility Company. Scammers are making telephone calls and sending emails to unsuspecting citizens and businesses claiming that they owe money immediately to avoid disruption of their services and possible payment penalties.

Victims are being provided with an account number to make a payment to and being given a time limit to complete the transfer. Fearing for service disruption and penalties, many victims are complying and finding out afterwards that they were scammed.

BCSO-STAR-180The caller may even suggest a location where you initiate a wire transfer from or suggest a location where you can purchase a “pre-paid” credit card from and then provide them the Credit Card Number.

Other scams have occurred where the caller pretends to be a law Enforcement Officer who makes you aware that you failed to comply with a Summons for Jury Duty and you now have a fine levied against you or even a warrant that has been issued for your arrest. The fraudster will direct you to obtain a pre-paid credit card and provide them the credit card number to avoid arrest. Please know that no Law Enforcement Agency would ever conduct business in this manner and that the call is a fraud.

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Regardless of the type of scam or the medium it was delivered by the best way to handle them is to keep calm and contact the alleged company or organization yourself. If you receive one of these calls or emails, contact the company they claim to be on your own and verify or disprove the claims they have made.

For example, if it is a Utility Company look up the contact information yourself and then call them to see if there are truly problems with your account.

If the claims are false, let the company know of the call or email you have received and file a report with your local Law Enforcement Agency so we can not only investigate the crime but send out a Community Alert to others so that they do not become victims as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft.

That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.

Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.