News
Scam targets Farrell man for $35,000
A Farrell resident is contacting his bank, trying to stop a $35,000 payment for a suspected fraudulent scheme.
Southwest Regional Police say that a Capitol Court resident contacted them on Friday to report that he received a phone call advising him that he won $2.5 million and other items including a vehicle.
However, the victim was told that he had to send $35,000 dollars to receive the prizes.
The resident transferred the funds, but then realized that he may have been the victim of a scam.
Police are investigating the case, which they characterize as possible communications fraud.
Although the victim is currently out of the money, a hold has been placed on the funds in the amount of $35,000 at a bank in Florida. Investigators say that because the case is still under investigation, returning the money to the victim will occur at a later date.
The FBI says that such advance fee schemes occur when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value—such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift—and then receives little or nothing in return.
The FBI offers the following tips for avoiding advanced fee schemes:
If the offer of an “opportunity” appears too good to be true, it probably is. Follow common business practice. For example, legitimate business is rarely conducted in cash on a street corner.
Know who you are dealing with. If you have not heard of a person or company that you intend to do business with, learn more about them. Depending on the amount of money that you plan on spending, you may want to visit the business location, check with the Better Business Bureau, or consult with your bank, an attorney, or the police.
Make sure you fully understand any business agreement that you enter into. If the terms are complex, have them reviewed by a competent attorney.
Be wary of businesses that operate out of post office boxes or mail drops and do not have a street address. Also be suspicious when dealing with persons who do not have a direct telephone line and who are never in when you call, but always return your call later.
Be wary of business deals that require you to sign nondisclosure or non-circumvention agreements that are designed to prevent you from independently verifying that the people with whom you intend to do business are genuine. Con artists often use non-circumvention agreements to threaten their victims with civil suit if they report their losses to law enforcement
