Our community has seen an increase in fraudulent activities surrounding financial scams.  Residents have reported an increase in telephone, mail, and email scams.  These scams involve financial exploitation based on threats and fear.  Scammers are attempt to scare people into sending them money.

There are various tactics being used by the scammers and their methods are always changing.  We hope to help you understand how to prevent yourself from becoming a victim to these scams.  The following are just a few examples of how scammers can target you.

IRS Scam

Around tax season time scammers will pretend to be from the IRS in order to scare residents into sending money.  These scammers are trying to trick people into believing they owe money to the IRS.  The phone calls could be a live person or computer generated.  These scammers will try to have you purchase gift cards from Walmart, Apple, or Visa cards.  They will then ask for the account and pin numbers for the gift cards.  The funds are not immediately available to the scammer.  No legitimate government entity, including the IRS, Treasury Department will accept any form of gift card as payment.

Remember, the IRS will never request personal or financial information by email, texting, or social media.

Grandparent Scam

The scammer will contact you by telephone and indicate that a loved one has been arrested, kidnapped, or detained by authorities and needs bail money.  The scammer could also pretend to be an attorney notifying you that your loved one has been in a car crash and needs money for various reasons including; attorney fees, damage fees from the crash, and medical bills. You should identify the caller by asking them for their name and a telephone number.  You should also ask them to provide your loved ones’ name, do not provide the identify of your loved one to the scammer.   Our advice is to refrain from giving out any information to the scammers.  These scammers will ask you to withdraw money from your bank account for a money pick up at your residence.  They may also direct you to your bank with wiring instructions.  DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM, CONTACT THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.

Lottery Winnings Scam

The scammer will send you a check in the mail via FedEx, UPS, or USPS.  Instructions will indicate that you won the lottery for a large amount of money.  The check the scammer sends is for a smaller amount of money and typically tell the victim that the money is to cover taxes on the winnings.  The scammers are requiring you to deposit that money into your bank account, withdraw the funds, and then mail the cash to an address provided.  The check is usually drawn on another person’s account that was also scammed.  Your scammer may also want you to send the money via a gift card (Walmart, Apple, and Visa Card).  Once you get these cards they will call you at a predetermined time and will want the activation codes and the account numbers on the cards. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM CONTACT THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.

 

We want all residents to be alert for phone and email scams from individuals who could be impersonating a loved one.  Contact your Police Department if you receive a similar call.  These scammers will play on your emotions, they will swear you to secrecy, and they will attempt to scare you into believing you are in some type of trouble.  You can protect yourself by not giving out personal information, and CONTACTING YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

If a person calls you on the telephone asking you for money more than likely it is a scam.  If you feel it may be a scam you can call the Wilmington Police Department with your concern and we can assist you with verifying the legitimacy of the call, Email, or letter you received.