By Bruce Dayno, Chief of Police
Here are some common scams that I am familiar with or have read about on the Internet Crime Complaint Center website operated by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. You can report internet crime or get more information on their website, https://www.ic3.gov/.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates another's personal information without their knowledge to commit theft or fraud. Identity theft is a vehicle for perpetrating other types of fraud schemes. Typically, the victim is led to believe they are divulging sensitive personal information to a legitimate business, sometimes as a response to an email solicitation to update billing or membership information, or as an application to a fraudulent Internet job posting.
Fake Help Desk Scam
This is a scam I recently received information on, but have not yet heard of any Riverwoods residents who were intended victims. It is perpetrated by malicious cyber actors using fake help desk scams, also known as technical support scams. These scams, if successful, seek to compromise and take control of computer systems. Malicious cyber actors send users an e-mail or they make cold calls, purportedly representing a help desk from a legitimate software or hardware vendor. The malicious cyber actors try to trick users into believing that their computer is malfunctioning—often by having them look at a system log that typically shows scores of harmless or low-level errors—then convincing them to download software or let the "technician" remotely access the personal computer to “repair” it.
Grandparent Scam
This scam has been attempted on some of our residents. It usually begins when a male caller, identifying himself as the person's grandson, claims he is involved in an emergency situation and asks for money. Often the caller claims to have been arrested in Canada and needs bail money wired through Western Union to get out of jail. The scammer often tricks the grandparent into revealing their grandchild’s name and by the end of the conversation, the confused grandparent thinks the scammer knew the name all along.
Lottery Scams
This scam was attempted on one of our residents, who thankfully made an inquiry with us before sending in “fees.” The lottery scheme deals with persons randomly contacting email addresses advising them they have been selected as the winner of an International lottery. (In the Riverwoods case, it was a series of telephone calls to the intended victim.)
The email message usually reads similar to the following:
“This is to inform you of the release of money winnings to you. Your email was randomly selected as the winner and therefore you have been approved for a lump sum payout of $500,000.00. To begin your lottery claim, please contact the processing company selected to process your winnings.”
An agency name follows this body of text with a point of contact, phone number, fax number, and email address. An initial fee ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 is often requested to initiate the process and additional fee requests follow after the process has begun. These emails may also list a United States point of contact and address while also indicating the point of contact at a foreign address.
Nigerian Letter Scam
This scam combines the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, email, or fax is received by the potential victim. The communication from individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars, soliciting for help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are out of the country. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim to send money to the author of the letter in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.
Phishing
Phishing e-mail messages are designed to steal your identity. They ask for personal data, or direct you to Web sites or phone numbers to call where they ask you to provide personal data. These messages may appear to come from your bank or financial institution, asking to confirm personal information and may indicate your account will be closed if you don’t respond. They might include links to spoofed Web sites where you are asked to enter personal information.
“I’ve Been Mugged” Scam
A common scam is: “I’ve been mugged in London/Lagos/Belgrade: please send me the air fare home.” This may appear to come from a friend or relative, but is actually being sent by somebody who hijacked their e-mail account and is trying to take advantage of the good nature of persons on the contact list.
These scammers like to prey on senior citizens. Please take the time to discuss this information with friends, neighbors, and relatives whom you feel may be potential victims.
Never give out personal information to a source you do not know or cannot verify. Banks and credit card companies never call or email you to verify personal information, but unscrupulous scammers fraudulently purporting to represent them do. Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
For questions or more information, contact:
Bruce M. Dayno
Riverwoods Chief of Police
224-284-2332
bdayno@riverwoods.gov
