Scam Warnings

FEB. 5, 12PM RK (ONE-RING AND CREDIT CARD SCAMS)

THE OELWEIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PASSING ALONG WARNINGS FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, OF WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE "ONE RING" CELL PHONE SCAM, AS WELL AS A NEW CREDIT CARD SCAM.

IN THE ONE RING SCAM, COMPUTERS ARE USED TO SEND THOUSANDS OF CALLS TO RANDOM CELL PHONE NUMBERS, RINGING THEM ONCE, THEN DISCONNECTING. SCAMMERS THEN ANTICIPATE THE CELL PHONE USER IS CURIOUS ENOUGH TO CALL THE NUMBER BACK RIGHT AWAY, TO SEE WHO OR WHAT IT WAS ABOUT. WHEN THE CALL IS RETURNED, THE CELL PHONE OWNER IS CHARGED $19.95, PLUS $9 PER MINUTE. THE VICTIM MAY BE ON THE LINE FOR SOME TIME, WHICH QUICKLY ADDS TO THE COST. THE CALLS ARE INITIATED SOMEWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, AND REPORTEDLY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH AN ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESS. IF SOMEONE THINKS THEY MAY HAVE FALLEN FOR THIS SCAM, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THEIR CELL PHONE COMPANY IMMEDIATELY.

THE OTHER CURRENT SCAM, INVOLVES A MYSTERIOUS $9.84 CHARGE ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS, TO GENERIC WEBSITES. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TARGET HOLIDAY DATA BREACH, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER RETAILERS, THERE ARE REPORTS THAT CONSUMERS ARE FINDING UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES OF $9.84 ON THEIR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS. THE ALLEGED FEE IS FOR "CUSTOMER SUPPORT", LEVIED BY ONE OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES. ACCORDING TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, CHARGES OF LESS THAN $10 ON CREDIT CARD BILLS ARE USUALLY NOT NOTICED BY THE CONSUMER.

OWNERS OF CREDIT CARDS ARE WARNED TO INSPECT THEIR STATEMENTS CAREFULLY, AND IF THEY SUSPECT FRAUD, TO ORDER A NEW CARD, AND PUT A FRAUD ALERT ON YOUR CREDIT FILE, THROUGH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. THEIR WEBSITE IS www.ftc.gov. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CREDIT CARD FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT CAN BE FOUND ON THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WEBSITE, AT www.bbb.org.

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