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Officials are warning about a new scam involving a Ventura County man who sent funds to out-of-state locations after receiving a call from a fake former US agent.
The incident was reported by a victim resident of Ojai on March 28th, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday.
After receiving a call from someone who identified himself as a former US agent, the victim was told that he had to withdraw all his money from his bank account and send it to a place out of state by mail.
After sending a large amount of cash, the victim met with police chief Ojai, where he realized he was a victim of a telephone fraud, the sheriff’s office said.
The age of the victim has not been revealed, but a news release said millions of elderly Americans are targeted by financial con artists each year.
“It’s common for criminals to steal money and information from families, government agencies, technical support experts, banking agencies and more,” the sheriff’s office said.
Residents were provided with the following tips to avoid financial fraud:
Recognizes attempts to fraud and terminates all communications with the perpetrator. Never give unknown and unverified people remote access to your device or account. Please be aware of unsolicited phone, mail, and door-to-door service offers. Do not provide or send personal identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses. Resist pressure to act quickly. The con man creates fear and creates a sense of urgency that instantly seduces the victim. Call the police immediately if you feel that you or your loved one is in danger. Legal companies known nationwide do not require payments by cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, wire transfers, or cash mailed overnight, or by courier to collect payments. Legal Customers, Security, or Technical Support Company will not initiate unsolicited communications with individuals, request immediate payments, or use prepaid cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, mailed cash, or courier services to request payments. The legitimate lottery and beneficiaries do not have to pay advance taxes and fees to claim the award or inheritance. Playing foreign lottery in any way is a violation of federal law. Be careful about what you download. Do not open email attachments from people you don’t know. If the offender has access to your device or account, take precautions to protect your identity. Contact your financial institution immediately to protect your account, monitor your account and personal information, and carry out suspicious activities. Make sure you have up-to-date protection for all computer anti-virus and security software and malware. Uses reputable antivirus software and firewalls. If you see a pop-up message or a lock screen, disconnect from the internet and shut down the device. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. You can prevent the pop-up blocker from accidentally clicking on the pop-up. Beware of what you post and publish online. Scammers use the details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
Residents who believe they are victims of fraud were urged to contact sheriff dispatch numbers at 805-654-9511 to report. Complaints can also be filed online with the Federal Trade Commission or the Federal Bureau of Investigation at www.ftc.gov or www.ic3.gov.
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