The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is notifying citizens of a new method that thieves are using to obtain the personal information needed to steal your identity. It involves the technology of Caller Id.
This is an example of how this scam works:
A person is at home and receives a telephone call. The targeted person looks on their Caller Id system and notices that the displayed telephone number shows that the call is being placed from their banking institution. When the person answers the telephone, the caller states that there were some glitches with the bank’s computer system and the bank is calling all of their customers to verify accounts. The caller asks the person not only for personal information, but also banking account and routing numbers. Having the confidence, by the display of their Caller Id system, that their banking institution has placed the call, the intended victim provides all of the requested information to the caller. Days and sometimes months later, it is discovered that the caller was actually a thief who was able to get enough information in one simple telephone call to steal both the person’s identity and money from their bank account.
“We want to warn our citizens that there are services available and programmable equipment now on the market to disguise the identity of the telephone caller on Caller Id systems,” said Sheriff Wayne Youell. “Thieves are using the services and programming these gadgets to falsely display telephone numbers of banking institutions, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, schools, courts, and state and federal agencies on Caller Id systems to gain the intended victim’s trust and obtain information.”
Although no known incidents regarding this scam have been reported in Mason County, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office wants to bring awareness to this scam in an effort to prevent victims. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office advises to never give personal or banking information by telephone to any caller.
“If you feel you have been targeted as a victim for this or any other crime, notify your local police or the Mason County Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible,” said Youell. “For the greatest success in apprehending the offender of these type of crimes, it is very important that we start investigating the crime soon after it is committed.”Return To Press Releases