People who attempt to steal money through phone scams and telemarketing ploys are using new techniques to manipulate those who answer mobile devices into believing they mean no harm.
To trick people into answering, real people’s names, with a 970 area code, will be displayed on-screen during incoming calls.
According to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Dan Bender, local businesses and individuals within the past week have received several calls that appear to be from Sgt. McLaughlin of La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. The caller will then claim to be with the Sheriff’s Office’s Civic Service Division.
The “civic service division” does not exist, and although there is an employee named McLaughlin at the Sheriff’s Office, he does not call members of the public. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office does not collect fines of any kind and would never request that anyone pay over the phone.
Bender explained that a series of scams were seen this year that involved callers who claimed to be with the Sheriff’s Office and threatened people with arrest if they refused to send money for various fines.
“Anyone claiming to be calling from the Sheriff’s Office to collect fines is lying,” Bender said. “Scam artists and unscrupulous telemarketers use the names of real local people and real local businesses to get their foot in the door.”
People should also be aware of another scam, involving a caller who tells people they’ve won a sweepstakes and must send money to cover taxes or other fees to receive a prize.
“Scams have been around since someone tried to sell unsuspecting people the Brooklyn Bridge. They are just getting more high-tech about it,” Bender said. “If the caller or request doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t.”
fstone@durangoherald.com
