Local complaints about telephone scams continue

According to a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Press Release, dated Jan. 24, 2012:
The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to receive reports of telephone scams from the public.  One citizen received a call from someone who identified himself as her grandson. The caller told the citizen he had been involved in a drunk driving accident with a family from Lebanon, and he needed the citizen to wire him money to pay for the damage he did to their rental car. He could not get out of jail until this was done. The caller had a British accent.  The deputy who was investigating the report assisted the citizen in determining the grandson was fine and the call was a scam.

In the second case the citizen reported receiving a call from a  “John Stone”  who told her she won the lottery and a car. The caller told the victim he needed $200 to pay for the processing of the victim’s winnings. The caller asked the citizen to go to a local store and obtain a prepaid credit card which the victim did. The caller then asked the victim for the card number over the telephone which the victim provided and the money was then removed from the prepaid credit card by the suspect. 
   

The Sheriff’s Office would like to continue to remind callers to not send money, money orders, provide credit card information, checking account information or any other personal information to people over the phone or on line. Go to your local bank and see them in person if they claim to be with your bank.  The lottery will not ask you to send them money to obtain your prize.

If you have any questions call your local law enforcement agency.