Crime alert! Scams targeting younger-age victims

A Eugene Police Community Service Officer was working on reports that had come in and saw one of a younger adult who had been scammed of $4,000. She reported she received a call from a a local credit union's fraud department who told her someone was using her card, then transferred her to a man from the "FBI," who told her she was listed as a suspect in drug trafficking among other things. She was told she could prove her innocence by buying some gift cards and threatening her with going to jail if she hung up. This is a version of a well-used scam. Case 24-16640

Eugene Police Records Office staff last month also reported an uptick in younger, college-age victims coming to the front counter or calling to report warrant scams. Their stories are remarkably similar: a person calls impersonating the Eugene Police Department or officer calling to tell them they have a warrant for their arrest or some variation with a bank or other institution. They were told they would be arrested unless they purchased gift cards and gave the card information to them. In some cases, the victim who was getting scammed asked the scammer to verify who they were, by calling them back from the Eugene Police Department listed number or a number that was a spoof of the real number, for instance starting with '541.682'. The scammers get victims to pay through gift cards, Apple Pay and Zelle, or cryptocurrency.

Eugene Police, government agencies, banks, credit unions and other legitimate businesses would never call someone and demand payment immediately, and not by gift cards. Law enforcement agencies do not call and advise people they have a warrant for their arrest.

Please don't fall for these scams. They have been around for a while and crops back up like a thorn in our community. Often victims are told they are required to pay money to avoid criminal charges or arrest. They use the names of retired and current EPD officers and command staff, banks, IRS, or other agencies, often calling from a spoofed number that looks like it's coming from the legitimate department and getting victims to pay through Apple Pay and Zelle. Victims could also be asked to pay through other means, such as cryptocurrency or gift cards.

There are so many scams out there. Many scams try to alarm you or scare you. Others just prey on your situation. A list of scams is provided on EPD's website (http://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11128). This document covers some of the most common scams we've seen in our area, but new ones are popping-up all the time. It is easy to get taken in, even if you are usually suspicious of scams.

If you receive a phone call and recognize that the call is a scam, please hang up immediately and report the information to www.ic3.gov

If you are the victim of a scam and have incurred a loss, please call the EPD non-emergency at 541.682.5111.

These cases provide an opportunity for a reminder on how to avoid becoming the victim of fraud. Scams are cyclical in nature. Eugene Police recommend to remain careful and skeptical of callers:

•If someone asks you for your cash, gift cards, credit card numbers, security log-ins, or other personal information (especially if you don't know them well), the safest move is to refuse their request and check with the police, or find an independent way to contact a legitimate business and follow up rather than responding right away to the caller.

•Don't give out computer or phone log-ins, personal or financial information to someone who calls you. If you are unsure, hang up and independently find the phone number of the alleged represented agency and call yourself. A law enforcement agency will not ask you for this type of information or request that money be sent by way of money order for any reason.

•Beware of high pressure techniques, such as the need to give information or make a decision on the spot.

•If it sounds quirky or weird, it probably is.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.