It's a scam that's all too common this time of year; people impersonating a charity to pull at your heartstrings and at your wallet.

What does a charity or donation scam look like? It could be a cold call, an email, a social media account or even a fake ad online. They may even tell you your donation is tax deductible.

Scammers pray on folks who want to make a difference and give back. Before making a donation, it's always important to take a little extra time to ensure your money is going to a real cause.

1. Do your research. Verify the business through the Better Business Bureau or a charity's nonprofit status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
2. Hang up and call back. If you receive a phone call from someone asking for money, ask who they are representing. If you're interested in donating, search for the organization online and call back using the phone number listed on their official website.
3. Slow down. If someone is pressing you for money right away, be wary. A reputable cause will understand if you need time to think or research their cause.
4. If you received an email, double check the domain and look for any typos. Most often, a real business or charity won't be using a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo to do business.
5. Avoid clicking links in emails, online ads or social media unless you are sure they are real. Instead, try opening a new tab and searching for the website to get a new link from your search engine.
6. Be cautious when giving out your debit or credit card number. Whether it's online or over the phone, make sure you've checked the URL or have verified who you're speaking to.
7. After making a donation, watch your bank account statements to ensure there are no unauthorized transactions.

If you do fall victim to this type of scam, report it by calling Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111 AND by submitting a complaint through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), regardless of dollar loss.

Lastly, help your family and friends avoid scams like this by sharing this important information.

Between braving the crowds on Black Friday to supporting local Tigard businesses during Small Business Saturday and shopping online during Cyber Monday, Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

Before you place any orders, let's take a moment to review some ways to avoid common Cyber Monday scams:

1. Shop from trusted websites. This goes beyond looking at reviews; make sure the URL starts with "https://", that means any data you send (like your credit card number) is encrypted and more difficult for hackers to see what data you're sending.
2. Think twice before clicking links from unexpected emails or text messages. Scammers commonly send out fake package tracking information or messages about a problem with your order or bank account and will try to get you to click a link or call a phone number. If this happens, pause and look at the sender information. If you think it may be legitimate, it's always a safer bet to look up the customer service phone number or website in a new tab on your browser than to click a link or trust the provided phone number.
3. Use strong passwords and two factor authentication (2FA). Try to avoid reusing passwords - if one website gets hacked, someone could try to use your log in info on other websites.
4. Avoid fake shops on social media. You may see ads for unique or highly discounted products on apps like Instagram. Before placing an order, do your research and verify if the account represents a real business. Are there reviews online? Are they recognized by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? Spending an extra moment before placing an order and help save you from a headache later on if you find out the shop was a scam.
5. Check your bank and credit card statements regularly. Look for transactions you don't recognize or recurring payments you don't remember setting up.

If you do fall victim to a scam, report it by calling Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111 AND by submitting a complaint through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov, regardless of the dollar amount.

Lastly, help your family and friends avoid scams like this by sharing this important information.

More Tigard Police Scam Alerts: https://bit.ly/TPD-ScamAlerts

Have you ever used a local marketplace app (like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp) to buy something used? Let's take a moment to review a couple safety tips before meeting up with someone off an app:

1. Choose a well-lit place where people can see and hear you. This could be outside a convenience store, a coffee shop or restaurant.
2. Take a friend with you so you aren't meeting a stranger alone.
3. Check out the person's seller profile before agreeing to meet up. Do they have good reviews? Is their account brand new? Sometimes a brand new account could be an indication of a scammer pretending to be someone they're not.
4. Don't pay in advance. If someone is pressuring you to send money through an app, it could be a scam. Plus, not all apps will protect your purchase.
5. Pay in cash whenever possible.
6. If you're selling an item, check out the Secret Service's tips on identifying counterfeit bills: https://bit.ly/SS-KnowYourMoney

It happens in a moment. Someone you don’t know catches you off guard, offering to give you jewelry. You don’t really understand what’s happening, but afterward you realize your own jewelry is missing.

Unfortunately, it’s a scam that has recently been reported in Washington County. Already, it’s cost unsuspecting victims over $10,000 in at least three separate cases.

How does this scam work?

Victims of this scam have reported a stranger approaching them and offering them jewelry. Usually, the scammer imposes the jewelry on the victim by claiming they are “gifting” them a necklace, ring, or other item because it is an “important part of their cultural tradition.”

Before they know it, the victim is wearing the scammer’s jewelry and had their own rings, necklaces, or other valuables removed unknowingly.

In some cases, the scammer will even hand cash to further distract them while their own jewelry is being stolen.

How can you better avoid being scammed?

With scams like this, protect yourself as best you can.

1. Be comfortable telling someone NO.
2. Set boundaries: it’s not rude to tell someone they are not allowed to touch you. It is especially important not to let an unknown person help you “try on” jewelry because they can use sneaky tricks to remove your own.
3. Limit distractions while you are out and about. Keep your eyes up and off your phone and be aware of your surroundings.
4. If a scammer tells you their jewelry is valuable, or they try to sell it at a “discounted rate”, don’t believe them. Official looking documents can be forged.
5. Only buy jewelry and other goods from credible businesses. Often, someone on the street who approaches you unsolicited is not reputable.

Remember: scammers never have your best interest in mind and will use deception to trick you out of money or your belongings. Keep yourself safe by staying alert and telling people NO if they try to approach you unsolicited. 

If you believe you've been the victim of one of these scams, please call report it to a police officer by calling Washington County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111.

Stop! Don’t call that number or click that link. Scammers are sending fake order confirmations through text messages and emails to try to trick you into giving them your personal information.

How does this scam work?

Once an unsuspecting person clicks or calls the link sent by the scammer, they are usually asked to provide their name, address, and even credit card information. The scammer will claim they need your personal information to “cancel” your non-existent order.

What can a scammer do with your personal information?

You might not think providing your name, address, or contact info could cause harm. However, some scammers gather your information to sell to other scammers. Some will even try to steal your identity. If a scammer gets your credit or debit card number, they could use it to drain your bank accounts.

What can you do to avoid being scammed?

As with any scam, protect your information as best you can. If someone unexpectedly calls you saying they represent Amazon, Microsoft, a bank or another company, think twice before giving them your information. Other ways to lessen the likelihood of becoming a scam victim:

1. If you are seeing a confirmation for an order you did not place, check with your family to see if anyone else may have placed an order.
2. Don’t click links or call phone numbers from unsolicited messages. Use your web browser to find the company’s contact information online to call customer support. The company will verify if the message came from them.
3. If you still do not recognize the order, then check your bank account to verify no withdrawal was made. Continue checking for the next 3-4 days to ensure a charge does not go through later.

Do you think you may be the victim of a scam? File a police report by calling our non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 and ask to speak to a Tigard Police Officer.

Scammers are turning to Instagram to trick users into handing over their Instagram account and spending thousands of dollars in fake bitcoin mining investments.

Real bitcoin mining runs sophisticated software that rewards users with bitcoin cryptocurrency for checking and verifying other bitcoin transactions on the internet.  

How do you identify this scam?

When you see this scam, you may think your friend is praising a "bitcoin mining expert" for investing their money, when really the scammer is the one posting the recommendation. You may notice a post on a friend’s account about receiving a large sum of money or posting a photo of a new car and attributing their fortune to another Instagram user, the "bitcoin mining expert". In some cases, you may even see post a video of your friend speaking to the camera about how their new bitcoin mining expert is “the real deal” or “legit”.  By the time you see these types of posts, it’s too late for your friend to get their money or Instagram account back.

So how does this scam work?

All it takes is one person in a friend group to start a domino effect. Once someone sends money to the scammer, the scammer then promises a return on investment only if they can have access to the person’s Instagram account. Before the scammer sends the money, they force the victim to record a scripted video recommending their services. Once the scammer has the video and access to the victim’s account, they change the password and lock the victim out of their account – and never send the money they promised. Then, it’s easy for the scammer to impersonate their victim to trick the victim’s friends next.

Those who fall victim to this scam are often out hundreds and even thousands of dollars on fake investments. They also lose access to their Instagram accounts that have years’ worth of photos and memories.

How can you avoid this scam?

Don’t believe everything you see, even when it comes to posts from your own friends. When in doubt, speak with your friend on another platform like over the phone or through a video call. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Learn more about avoiding scams on Instagram.

Below are a couple real-life examples of this scam on Instagram. If you see a similar post on a friend’s account, think twice before engaging.

 

Last year, tens of thousands of Oregonians reported being a victim of a crime. Many fell victim to frauds or scams. Data suggest, however, that certain scams are directed towards specific age groups. Further evidence also indicates some scams target ethnic groups, who suspects think will not report such crimes because of language or communication challenges.

Scams are considered a crime of opportunity. Many victims willingly provided the perpetrator personal information or money without checking the legitimacy of the alleged business or the tactics behind the transaction.

Victims have reported being scammed over the telephone, in-person and over the internet. Oregon ranked 25th in the nation for internet-based fraud, according to the FBI in its most recent annual report.

The Tigard Police Department has observed and filed crime reports for nearly all of the 36 different variations of fraud known. Many victims lost money—some a substantial amount. A number of victims said they felt they were being scammed, but the prospect of the outcome overcame their ability to think clearly and stop the transaction.

Tigard Residents Targeted

On a nearly daily basis, Tigard residents report they are victimized to police. The most commonly reported scam involves arrest threats for unpaid traffic tickets or fines. Some victims reported arrest threats due to an outstanding warrant.

Remember, no government agency will call and demand immediate payment of any kind, let alone payment made by a pre-paid credit card or retail gift card. Hang up if you receive such a call.

Victims have also reported to the Tigard police they were threatened with arrest for unpaid taxes. In many cases, the caller demanded a pre-paid credit card or gift card to avoid making an arrest. Once again, the IRS does not call with demands for immediate payment. The IRS communicates through the U.S. postal service.

Residents’ best rule of thumb is to be smart and hang up. Tell a family member if you are unsure what to do. Please, do not give criminals any opportunity to victimize another person.

Remember, hang up if it starts with fast talking, threat of reprisal and immediate demand for money. Report the incident to the police. In Tigard the non-emergency call line is 503-629-0111. To learn more about computer fraud and scams, visit www.IC3.gov.

Phone Scammers

Just when you think you have heard it all, you receive a call or email with an immediate demand for money. The scammer emphatically states if you do not comply, you will face arrest and/or a substantial monetary fine, physical assault and whatever else the caller has fabricated.

Do not fall victim to this tactic. Legitimate government agencies, utility companies and other businesses do not conduct business in this manner. Simply hang up. In fact, please consider not answering your telephone if you are unsure or unfamiliar with the person calling.

The Tigard Police Department receives numerous calls from residents weekly advising that they are the target of similar scams. The call or email almost always comes with an immediate deadline to make a payment to avoid some extreme action taken against you.

Unfortunately, we also have reports where a victim has followed through with the scam artist’s demands. Please share the information about potential scams with your family and friends—especially those who may be most vulnerable such as the elderly or anyone who may struggle with language or communication challenges.

Almost 100 percent of the time when an immediate demand for money is made, whether through a prepaid credit card or a money wire transfer such as Western Union, it is a scam.

What You Should Do

• Anyone who receives such a demand should hang up and immediately call police to report.
• Do not fall victim or be thrown off if you see a local area code such as 503 or 971 on your telephone’s caller ID. Technology now allows callers to disguise the source of the call. Investigators know that a high percentage of fraudulent calls originate from outside the United States.

Although the likelihood is relatively low that local police agencies can arrest the perpetrators, information sharing among law enforcement regarding such attempts to defraud citizens has proven beneficial. Most often, federal agencies who also share in the collected data are better able to track down and arrest those responsible.

In Tigard, the telephone number to report all non-emergencies is 503-629-0111.

To learn more about scams and how to avoid them, go to https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.

Are you seeing a great deal on an online rental listing?

If so, please be cautious. Rental scams have been around a long time and we continue to hear about them. Recently, a landlord found that his rental ad was hijacked by a scammer who took the information, changed the contact info and posted the scam ad on Craigslist. Scammers also use info and photos from real estate listings to create an ad or they may create listings for places that don’t exist. College students are especially susceptible to these kinds of scams.

Some of the signs of rental scams:

• The rent is way too low for the area.
• They require you to pay the deposit, first and last months’ rent and/or sign the lease before you have a chance to see the property. If you wire money or pay by gift card, you will not be able to recover the money.
• The owner claims to be out of town or unavailable and can’t show you the property.
• The landlord uses high pressure tactics to get you to pay a deposit or sign a lease.

Here are some tips to help you avoid rental scams:

• Be wary of any rental rate much lower than other similar rentals in the area. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don’t make a payment or provide your social security number, bank or personal info to a property owner before touring the property and going through a standard rental process.
• Be suspicious if you’re asked to pay via wire transfer, gift or prepaid credit cards, which typically can’t be recovered.
• Be alert for duplicate listings online.
• Research the management company or homeowner's name online to double-check credentials.

Be wary of economic impact payment scams

You may periodically receive economic impact payments from the federal government through direct deposit or check in the mail. To find out more and track your payment, please visit the IRS website.

You should expect to see a number of scams emerge related to these stimulus payments. Please read an important message from the IRS:

“The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scam artists trying to use the economic impact payments as cover for schemes to steal personal information and money. Remember, the IRS will not call, text you, email you or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information – even related to the economic impact payments. Also, watch out for emails with attachments or links claiming to have special information about economic impact payments or refunds.”

One of our community members shared an IRS phishing email shown here. The scammer was trying to get her to call and divulge personal and banking info.

IRS scams happen throughout the year whether by phone, email or text. Scammers play on people’s anxiety about taxes. Please know:

• The IRS will not initiate contact with you by email. Typically, the IRS initiates contact through regular mail. When in doubt, call the IRS directly to verify: www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance
• The IRS will not demand payment by wire transfer, debit or gift card.
• Tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury.
• During a contact, an IRS agent will not threaten to have local police arrest you for not paying.
• The IRS allows taxpayers the opportunity to question or appeal an amount owed.
• The IRS will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• The IRS does not use text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds.
• Be skeptical of emails received from @gmail or other domains that are supposed to be from a well known agency.

Be wary of unsolicited emails from the IRS and don't click on links in these emails, which may contain malware! You can always contact the IRS directly using a phone number that you find on the IRS.gov website if you are concerned about a message. Forward IRS phishing emails with the full email headers to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. If you lost money due to an IRS phishing scam, file a police report. Report identity theft to the police and FTC.gov/idtheft.

A Tigard neighbor received the message pictured from a Gmail address stating that their Microsoft firewall security was expiring and $470 would be automatically deducted from their bank account. Fortunately, the neighbor realized the message was a scam since there is not a renewal fee for the firewall.

This is one of the many tech support scams that we continue to hear about. In other cases, scammers phone, email and text claiming that your computer has a virus or is a security risk. Their goal is to get you to contact the scammer, pay tech support fees and provide access to your computer to “fix” the problem, which may lead to identity theft or malware on your computer.

Advice from Microsoft:

• Microsoft and other legit tech support companies will not call, email or text you to report that you have a problem with your device.
• Pop up notifications from these companies do not include phone numbers you must call in order to get help. Error and warning messages from Microsoft never include a phone number.
• Like your home, be diligent about who you invite into your PC and devices.

What you can do:

• Hang up on unsolicited tech support calls and delete these texts and emails.
• Question any transaction that involves gift cards, prepaid credit or debit cards or wire transfers.
• Be wary of emails received from @gmail or other domains that are supposed to be from a well known company.
• Tell somebody about scams and scam attempts. Scammers count on you being quiet.
• Report Microsoft tech support scams to Microsoft.com/reportascam. If you have suffered financial losses due to any scam, contact the police.
• Keep your software updated.

Our detectives want to get the word out about a new twist on an emergency scam that has been happening in the metro area, in case it comes to our city.

Scammers try to trick you into thinking a loved one is in trouble. They may call, text, post on social media or email you claiming to be a grandchild, family member or friend who needs money for an emergency to:

• Post bail to get out of jail
• Pay a hospital for an emergency procedure
• Help them get home after they have been robbed or stranded

If you don’t act now, scammers claim that something bad will happen to your loved one. These pressure tactics compel you to act before you have time to check it out.

In some cases, the scammer claims to be a lawyer, police officer or other authority contacting you about a loved one.

This long-time scam has evolved where the scammer now arranges for a courier to visit your home to collect the cash for the emergency.

Some tips for avoiding emergency scams:

• Don’t act immediately, regardless of the story. Give yourself time to check it out.
• Don’t share any info. Many victims provide names or other info, which the scammer will use to fake familiarity.
• Ask questions. Verify their identity by asking questions only known to your family member or friend.
• Call a family member or friend to ask about the person in trouble.
• Contact the police non-emergency number before taking action. In Washington County, the number is 503-629-0111
• Be wary of caller ID. Don’t rely on caller ID to determine if a caller is legitimate. Many scammers “spoof” caller ID so that a fake number or organization appears on the recipient’s phone.
• Be skeptical of messages. Scammers can hack an email and social media account, so don’t assume that messages received from familiar accounts are legitimate.
• Do your research. For example, if the caller claims to be in a jail in this country, check that law enforcement agency’s jail booking website or call the agency directly.

Be aware of scam emails that may be sent to your work inbox.

Someone claiming to be a department director sent an email to an employee asking her to purchase gift cards to reward employees for their hard work. The “director” instructed her to keep these plans confidential to surprise them. The employee was addressed by her name and the director’s name and title were correctly reflected in the signature line of the email. Fortunately, the employee realized it was a scam.

Some of the red flags in the scammer’s communications are included below:

• The email showed the director’s name, but the email address wasn’t a company address.
• The scammer wanted the assistant to act quickly. Pressure tactics are used in scams, so the victim doesn’t have time to think it through.
• Gift cards were requested. In most recent scams, gift cards are the payment of choice. The scammer will have the victim provide the pin and card number by phone or email and spend the funds immediately.
• The scammer wanted this to be confidential, so the assistant wouldn’t run the request by anyone who might question the activity.
• The communication contained numerous grammatical errors.

Here is what the scammer wrote in these emails:

“I'm planning to surprise some of the staff with Gift for their hard work over time and dedication to the organization, Your confidentiality will be appreciated however, I need you to get a purchase done, Email me once you get this .

I'm having a busy day and I hope I can count on you to keep this confidential. I'm looking forward to surprise some of the staff with gift cards, And i want this to be between you and I. Pending when they received it, Are you able to purchase on my behalf quickly and what local store do you think we have around to make this purchase? I'm considering Gift cards like Vanilla visa gift card, American express gift card or MasterCard. Since we have it all almost everywhere..

I need you to make a purchase of 8 Amex gift card or Vanilla gift card with $500 on each card, How soon can you get it done? Also You're getting your Reimbursement at the end of the day”

Amazon Refund Scam:

Based on three reported incidents in August, the scam to watch out for involves callers claiming to be from Amazon. The scammer states that he accidentally credited your account with a refund much larger than the actual amount. He says that he will lose his job if you don’t remit the overage via gift cards or wire transfer. In some cases, victims provide their bank info. In some incidents, this scam has resulted in significant losses.

Other scams we’ve seen recently:

• A DEA agent calls saying that they have a warrant out for your arrest and you must pay a fee or be arrested.
• Apple Support contacts you to help with computer issues and takes over your computer to extort money.
• A Letgo buyer sends a check for an amount exceeding the asking price and requests the seller to remit the difference. The check bounces after the seller pays the difference.
• A scammer claiming to be with the CIA, DEA or other agency claims that your social security card has been used in illegal or fraudulent activity and you must pay back funds via gift cards or be arrested.

Please remember a few red flags that indicate a scam, such as:

• Pressure tactics, including threats, to get you to act now before you have time to think.
• Offers too good to be true.
• Payment methods required that are difficult to recover such as gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and wire transfers.
• Unsolicited calls, emails, and texts that you aren’t expecting that may include requests for personal information.

Please keep in mind that you can’t always trust caller id because a scammer can "spoof" or disguise their identity.

Tips on avoiding scams

Update: The Oregon Attorney General is also receiving reports on this scam. The alert can be found here.

We received three separate complaints from neighbors about threatening/blackmail emails. In these emails, the scammers claim to have hacked into their computers and threaten to send out compromising video footage to their contact list unless they pay a fee. The scammer includes the email recipients’ passwords, which naturally alarms them.

This likely relates to a scam that has been around for a few years. The scammer obtains information from data breaches including passwords. The scammer refers to these passwords in the email to the intended victim. Because the password is legitimate, the email recipient may believe the scammer has actually hacked into their computer and may be inclined to pay the scammer.

Some preventative steps you can take:

• Don’t respond to these emails. Report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Block the sender.
• Regularly change your passwords.
• Use two factor authentication.
• Create unique passwords for each account that uses a combination of:
  • Words, numbers, symbols, and upper and lower case letters.
  • Choose words and numbers that can’t be easily guessed.
• Don’t recycle passwords.
• Make sure to password protect WiFi and other devices.

We want to alert our neighbors about possible COVID-19 scams that might impact our community. Scammers prey on our emotions. Many people have heightened concerns about our health, community, money, and supplies, making us more vulnerable to COVID-19 scams.

Be vigilant of scams during this time including:

• Unsolicited calls (robocalls), emails, and texts threatening to cut off your health benefits, utilities, or accounts if you don’t verify your data or pay a fee. Don't pay anything, provide info, or click on links in response to unsolicited contacts. If you’re concerned about your account status, contact the company directly using the contact information available from a statement or the company’s website.
  • A neighbor recently received a scam call where she was asked to confirm a renewal fee for Amazon prime; knowing that Amazon doesn’t call for renewals, she immediately hung up.
• COVID-19 themed phishing emails that prompt you to disclose personal info or click a link, such as a map of virus cases in your area, that downloads malware on your computer. The best prevention is to not click on links in unsolicited emails or texts. Research information directly on reputable websites such as www.cdc.gov.
• Work-at-home schemes.
• Online offers to prevent, diagnose, or cure COVID-19.
• Emergency or grandparent scams where someone calls or emails claiming to be a relative needing immediate assistance because they’ve been hospitalized or jailed.
• Online sellers that you are not familiar with who claim they have out-of-stock products, such as hand sanitizer, toilet paper, protective masks and gear. Some of these companies are not delivering the products ordered.
  • Check out the Federal Trade Commissions on verifying the legitimacy of an online retailer.
• Fake charities that spring up during times of crisis offering to help people in need.
• You can verify an Oregon charity at the DOJ website.

Please remember a few red flags that indicate a scam, such as:

• Pressure tactics, including threats, to get you to act now before you have time to think.
• Offers too good to be true.
• Payment methods required that are difficult to recover such as gift cards, prepaid debit cards, and wire transfers.
• Unsolicited calls, emails, and texts that you aren’t expecting that may include requests for personal information.
• Please keep in mind that you can’t always trust caller id because a scammer can "spoof" or disguise their identity.

If you are contacted by a scammer, please let your neighbors, friends and relatives know. Sharing your experiences can help prevent someone else from being scammed.

If you are a victim of a scam, report it to the police non-emergency number. In Washington County, you can call 503-629-0111.

For more scams related to COVID-19, please visit https://cybercrimesupport.org/covid-19-scam-alerts.

In the past, we've received several reports of a scammer(s) calling residents and businesses claiming to be a Tigard Police Officer. In a couple of these reported calls, the person identified himself as “Deputy Kyle Parker” and, in one case, attempted to obtain personal information from the call recipient. Fortunately, the recipient did not share any information.

In at least one case, the scammer provided a phone number for call back with a voicemail stating that he is a Tigard Police Officer and that people should call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

In many of these schemes involving law enforcement, fraudsters tells intended victims that they have outstanding citations or arrest warrants and must pay immediately to avoid being arrested. In some cases, scammers claim that victims missed jury duty and have warrants out for their arrest. Scammers goals are to pressure victims to act before they have time to think or do their research.

Some scam prevention tips to consider:

• Tigard Police will not demand payment from you for citations or warrants.
• Be wary of anyone calling you and asking for your personal information.
• If you are contacted unsolicited by someone identifying themselves to be a Tigard officer, you can call the non-emergency number at 503-629-0111 to verify.
• Be aware that you can’t always trust caller ID. Scammers often use caller ID spoofing, which allows them to falsify the number shown on caller ID.
• Many scammers are currently demanding payment by gift card or prepaid credit card. Be wary if that is the requested payment method.
• If a caller claims that you owe money and you are concerned that you do, hang up and contact the company directly to check it out.
• If you have been a victim of a scam in Tigard, please report the crime to the police non-emergency number at 503-629-0111.
• For information on the Oregon Attorney General's Office consumer hotline, please visit: www.doj.state.or.us/consumer-protection.

We recently received two reports about a work/cell phone scam and wanted to get the word out. The scammer posted a vague Craigslist job ad offering to pay between $500.00 - $1,500.00 dollars a day. The victim called the local phone number associated with the ad, and spoke to a male who self-identified as "Chris". Over the phone, Chris didn't reveal many details and insisted on meeting at the mall to discuss the job.

The scammer claimed to be a third party cell-phone dealer. He instructed the victim to go to all the major wireless cellphone carriers, open up new accounts, and buy as many high-end cell phones as possible. He would then pay the victim cash in exchange for the phones. The scammer stated that he knew of a loophole that allowed a third-party dealer to act as an agent and cancel cell phone contracts under a 14-day rule. In essence, the scammer represented that the victim would receive the cash for the phones and would not be liable for the cell phone contracts.

Unfortunately, Chris convinced one of the victims to enter into approximately $20,000 worth of cell phone contracts. The victim is on the hook for those contracts and was paid far less for each phone than the price of each contract.

Please beware of red flags of scams such as too-good-to-be-true offers and the use of pressure tactics to get you to act before having time to think or do research. These are common tactics used to defraud victims. Please spread the word!

A number of residents have reported to Tigard Police that fraudulent accounts have been opened in their names, including ones with cellular companies. Some victims discovered the fraud when they applied for a loan or debt collection agencies contacted them about unpaid balances.

Due to significant data breaches, a majority of consumers’ personal information has been compromised. It’s not enough to regularly check existing bank, loans, and credit card accounts. We need to ensure that criminals are not opening up new accounts in our name.

What you can do:

• Place a free freeze on each of your credit reports with the three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Businesses are unable to access your credit history while your reports are frozen and are unlikely to lend or open an account. However…. if you want to take out a loan, you need to temporarily lift the freeze on all of your reports so the lender has access to your credit history. For more info on freezes, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website.
• If you don’t put a freeze on your reports, consider subscribing to a credit monitoring service, especially one that immediately notifies you if someone opens up an account using your information.
• Request a free credit report every year from each of the three credit bureaus and review all of the outstanding accounts listed on the reports. There may be discrepancies between the reports, so please thoroughly review each one. For more information, please visit the FTC website.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, contact the police and visit www.identitytheft.gov for a recovery plan.

Recently, we've heard from a couple of residents who received scam phone calls from people claiming to be with the Social Security Administration (SSA). One neighbor answered the phone to hear a woman’s recorded voice stating that his social security number had been cancelled and he would not receive further benefits unless he talked to an agent. Fortunately, he hung up.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently warned that SSA scams are increasing. They received over 10 times as many complaints in 2018 as the prior year with 35,000 complainants and $10 million lost. Scammers impersonating SSA representatives may claim that your Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious or criminal activity associated with your number. They may threaten to issue an arrest warrant if you do not immediately respond.

These scammers may ask you to reactivate your Social Security number, a ploy likely used for identify theft. In some cases, they state your bank account is about to be seized and require you to purchase prepaid credit or gift cards or make a payment by wire transfer.

According to the FTC:

• “Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized.
• SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time.
• The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA. Even if the wait time is long, confirm with the real SSA before responding to one of these calls.
• Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you. Or your bank account or credit card number.”

Please let people know about this scam. To hear a snippet of one of these calls as well as to learn more information about them, please visit the FTC’s website.

A scammer called a resident recently claiming to be his son-in-law and asking for money to bail him out of a jail in Seattle. When the resident questioned why the caller’s voice sounded unfamiliar, the scammer said he had been in a crash and spent the night in jail without medical attention for a busted nose. The caller asked the resident to keep the conversation confidential because it would upset his wife.

The victim reported also speaking to a “representative of legal aid" who was attempting to secure $3,000 for bail. Phone numbers for both callers showed a Washington area code on caller ID. The scammers wanted the resident to provide his cell phone number so they could send him a bar code to use to deposit funds into their account at an ATM.

Fortunately, the resident called his daughter to verify the son-in-law’s whereabouts before proceeding with the money transfer and discovered the calls were associated with a scam.

Emergency scams can take various forms whether they involve a jail, a hospital or mugging where a “relative” needs cash to return home. Some tips for avoiding emergency scams:

• Know the signs of a scam. For example, scammers effectively use pressure tactics to compel individuals to act before they have time to analyze info and do their research. They may ask you to wire funds or use prepaid cards to pay.
  • Other signs
• Ask questions. If someone claims to be a relative, verify their identity by asking only questions known to that person.
• Check it out. Contact family members to confirm the person’s location.
• Do your research. For example, if the caller claims to be in a jail in this country, check the respective law enforcement agency’s jail booking website or call the agency directly.
• Be wary of caller ID. Don’t rely on caller ID to determine if a caller is legitimate. Many scammers “spoof” caller ID so that a fake number or organization appears on the recipient’s phone.
• Be skeptical of messages. Emergency scams can be transacted through hacked email and social media, so don’t assume that messages received from familiar accounts are necessarily legitimate.
• Maintain privacy. Emergency scammers may be able to glean information from social media accounts, so regularly update your privacy settings and restrict access. Additionally they often will use the information provided by the victim during a communication such as names and repeat it during the conversation to establish familiarity.