CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With the holidays approaching the Clearlake Police Department would like to remind the community to be mindful that Internet scams will be out in full force to get their attention and hard earned money.
It’s just not for gifts, according to a report from Sgt. Nick Bennett.
Bennett said recently a young person in the community was scammed by a someone from out of state posing as a member of the military who was being transferred and needed to sell a vehicle – an opportunity too good to be true.
After several e-mails and guarantees of delivery several thousands of dollars were transferred to the seller. The result was there no vehicle and no seller that could be located or tracked, Bennett said.
Bennett warned that, during the next few weeks leading up to the holiday season and beyond, citizens will be reporting they have been defrauded out of their money by the IRS calling for a payment of delinquent taxes (the IRS conducts business by mail, not telephone), utilities calling for payment or phone/power will be turned off (utility companies always send notices of delinquent accounts by mail well in advance) or some lottery calls with the good news that they have won money and need to send a certain amount of money to receive their prize.
He said that people do not need to pay out money to collect legitimate winnings.
Another scam that has been around for some time but people still fall for it is a check will appear in the mail which looks legitimate, Bennett said.
The sender requests you deposit the check and return a portion to them and keep the rest as your winnings. Days later the check will not clear and your checking account is debited for the bad check that cannot be traced, Bennett said.
Bennett reminded community members that, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Police warn of Internet scams at the holidays
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On