Sheriff’s Detectives would like to make the public aware of a national scam that has been targeting small businesses as well as residents in Los Angeles County.
The scam starts off with a phone call from an unknown suspect who is pretending to be an employee of a local utility company. The victim is told their utilities are past due and if they do not update their account the utility will be shut off. The suspect typically will instruct the victim to obtain a “Green Dot” card. A “Green Dot” card is a prepaid personalized Visa or MasterCard with no line of credit associated with it. You just simply “load” cash onto it as many times as you wish. These cards can be bought on-line or at many retail outlets including drug stores.
The suspect instructs the victim to purchase a “Green Dot” card, “load” money onto it, and call back, using a 1-800 number. The suspect will then ask for the card numbers associated with the “Green Dot” card. Once the suspect has the card number the suspect “drains” the account. It is almost like the victim is handing over cash. It is very difficult to trace these individuals because there are no accounts associated with the card and are constantly regenerating 1-800 numbers.
We ask the public to be extremely careful if you receive a phone call asking for any type of payment over the phone. If you have any hesitation, questions or concerns, hang-up the phone and call the utility company directly.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these types of scams, call your local sheriff or police department or visit www.consumer.ftc.gov or www.ic3.gov.
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12 Comments
Vladimir Kumanov Matt Rosenburg Brian Lachberg….requires a fair amount of stupidity …
It’s the senior citizens who get easily confused that are targeted with these scams. Take care of your elderly family members!
Sadly but true
Sherrie Gressman Ballard
@Preslee, I’m elderly?
This has been going around for a while. They also call saying they are from the IRS and also call the retailers trying to get employees to load cards.
This is real and doesn’t work exactly as the article says. These folks, just as any fraud entities obtain debit card info from other resources and run low amounts through your bank account like .58 cents to see if you notice. Make sure you check your bank accounts, this happen to my father and an automatic transaction alert from his financial institution help catch it early on.
I only used a White Dot card so I’m safe, lol
I got a call today at my business from (310)868-6160 and told me that I had to pay DWP (department of water and power) and I had 25 mins to call then back with a prepay card… I took the number and said I was going to call them back with the card number! I did call back just to see if they answer and told them I do not owe any money to dwp and you guys are scammers and they said to me.. Then why did you call us back if you do not owe money and hang the phone on me. I also called the utility co and they said to call the sheriff dept. or police dept. to file a report. I called the sheriff dept. and they said since there was no crime they wont do anything and To call the detective bureau to see if they were interested in following up…So i guess we need to pay those scammers in order for the Authorities to take action. I will be calling the detectives tomorrow. Will see!
Seen this way to often happening. Glad to see your putting it out there!!
Same scam. Only they’ll say that you didn’t go to jury duty, and there’s a warrant for your arrest. Just purchase green dot at 711 and give them the number and they will stop the warrant.
I received a call just now and they were saying to get a green card and put $350. They will call back with in an hour for now. The good thing I search for it.