Cambridge Police Highlight Latest Scams Victimizing Residents and Provide Protection Tips

As summer winds down and students begin to prepare for the new school year, the Cambridge Police Department wants to remind residents of the various scams that are currently targeting and victimizing citizens in Cambridge and in communities across the country.

Due to their success rates, phone and Internet scams continue to be utilized with increased regularity. A variety of phone and internet scams are typically reported to the Cambridge Police Department at a rate of 10-15 per week. Unfortunately, caller IDs may or may not show a real number, as scammers often use Caller ID spoofing technology to make their phone number appear as a legitimate number, like 911 or even the Cambridge Police Department. 

The following fraud scenarios continue to dominate: IRS scams, vacation and apartment rental scams, utility company fraudulent threats, calls for relatives in trouble with the law or in an accident, and sextortation scams.

• The IRS tax-fee scam involves an individual receiving a phone call from a person claiming to be a federal agent with the IRS or an automated message requesting the person to contact a phone number.  The individual will usually know the person’s name and will claim that they owe money in back taxes.  The scammer will inform the person that if they do not pay their tax fees either by wiring money, using a pre-paid money card, or a branded gift card they will be arrested.  The IRS has issued alerts that they do not contact individuals via telephone for owed taxes. It is also important to note that no government agency or police department will demand to be paid in gift cards of any kind and the IRS will never threaten to immediately arrest you.
  
  
• In an apartment or vacation rental scam, a scammer tries to get money from a prospective tenant for an apartment or vacation home that the scammer is in no legal position to rent. This scam typically involves a prospective tenant looking for rental properties and are told by the “landlord” via email that they are overseas or away and have to conduct the rental process remotely. Once the prospective tenant fills out a rental application, scammers will request deposit money to be wired to a bank account. Be suspicious if you’re asked to use a wire transfer service. Once that money is gone, it is often gone for good. We strongly encourage prospective renters to ask to see the potential landlord’s ID – record all the information you can from it. Use a browser to search for the landlord’s name. Be sure to add quotes around their name. You can add the words “fraud” or “scam” at the end of your search terms. You should also use the reverse directory look up if the person has given you their telephone number. It’s important to double check that they are who they say they are. Lastly, consider additional methods for obtaining a rental (i.e. real estate agent, going through a rental agency, etc.).
  
  
• Another scam involves an individual who calls a person and states that a relative of theirs has been involved in an accident.  The individual knows the identity of the person who “was in the accident” and uses threats and anger to try to convince the person being called that they will harm the relative.  The caller will generally make the person stay on the phone while they go to a local store and purchase pre-paid money cards or wire money to the scammer.
  
  
• Residents may also receive a phone call from an individual claiming to be an agent of the Federal Government or a police department and they inform you of an immigration violation or an arrest warrant.  The individual may then request you purchase pre-paid money cards or wire funds to clear up your warrant or violation. 
  
  
• You could receive a phone call from a utility company stating that you owe money and, if you don’t immediately pay it off, your utility service will be shut off.  This scam has been seen mainly with business customers.  The scammer will request the business purchase pre-paid cards and provide the number to the scammer to keep their utilities on. It’s important to note that once you provide a scammer with a pre-paid money card number, the chance of you recovering money is very slim. 
  
  
• Sextortion is a growing Internet crime, in which a perpetrator uses coercion to obtain sexual images, videos, money, or even sex from a victim, including children and teens. There were a series of reported sextortion cases in Cambridge in July (seven in 10 days). Scammers often seek wired money or bitcoin to stop the publishing of compromising videos. The scammers may have information from an old account that you may have had, including password information.
  
  

In addition to these phone and Internet scams, there have been two recent in-person scams. In one version, a suspect has targeted Asian-American college students asking them to help cash out a fraudulent check. After depositing the check on the suspect’s behalf, the unknowing victim immediately withdraws the deposited money and provides it to the suspect. Once it is determined that the deposited check is fraudulent, the victim’s account is compromised. The suspect in these incidents is described as a black male, approximately 5’7” with a medium build, and often notes how he is unable to access his bank. He often frequents Harvard Square and Bank of Americas. In another similar in-person scam, residents have fallen victim to a tow scam, in which a suspect asks a victim if they could cash a check for him since his vehicle was towed and the tow company only accepts cash. The checks were fraudulent and ultimately bounced.  

In order to protect yourself from these type of scam attempts, the Cambridge Police encourage you to follow these tips:

• Never give out personal information over the phone, online or in-person unless you are positive you are speaking to the company or entity you are expecting, or if you initiated the contact.
• If you have doubts about a phone call or communication you received, contact the company or organization who “allegedly” contacted you.  If you receive any contact mentioned in this article (or anything suspicious), please contact the Cambridge Police at 617-349-3300. 
• Read the Cambridge Police Department’s Crime Prevention and Safety Tips at www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/CrimePrevention/craigslistscams.aspx

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