"Hello?"
"Grandma?"
"Johnny, is that you?"
"Yes, Grandma, it's Johnny. I need help. Can you send money? Don't tell my parents."
"It is against the law for anyone to require payment to claim a prize."
Ken Farmer
Bella Vista Chief of Police
Or how about:
"You have won the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes! To claim your prize, send a check for $500 to ... ."
These are examples of common phone scams reported to the Bella Vista Police Department. They are nothing new, but resurface from time to time.
Different phone scams seem to rotate in cycles, Chief Ken Farmer said, but the "favorite grandchild" scam is popular year round in this area because it targets the elderly. Farmer said it's hard for some grandparents to believe it isn't actually their grandchild who needs help on the line.
Be wary of any call received from someone who requests money, Farmer warned.
Ask the caller directly to state his or her name before saying any grandchild's name yourself. Try to contact the grandchild, Farmer said, to verify if they are actually in trouble. And call their parents even if the caller says not to.
"You will probably find little Johnny safe and sound at college or at Mom and Dad's," Farmer said.
It is against the law for anyone to require payment to claim a prize, he added.
Even if the number on a caller ID system shows a local phone number, it can still be a hoax. With today's technology, Farmer said it's possible for certain devices to turn Internet connections into phone lines, and a scammer can use this device to make it appear the number is calling from anywhere he or she wants.
Through-the-mail scams are also still prevalent, he said.
"If you didn't enter (a contest), you probably didn't win, and if it's too good to be true, it probably is," Farmer said.
This time of year, Farmer urges residents to be cautious about home improvement scams, "when someone shows up uninvited, unannounced, wanting to do work (on your home) you didn't know needed to be done."
Examples of these scams are people saying they will seal your roof or treat your grass, and then they merely spray water on it.
Do not give out any personal information on an unsolicited call, Farmer said. There are certain pieces of personal information that need to be protected, he added, including your Social Security number.
"Don't carry (your Social Security card) with you," he said, adding there are only a few times one needs to present the actual card -- getting a job or filing for Social Security benefits, for instance.
If you fall for a scam and give out personal information before realizing it, put holds on banking and credit card accounts, Farmer said. Report the scam to a credit bureau.
If you think you've been targeted by scammers, or for more information, call the Police Department at 479-855-3771.
General News on 04/23/2014