Phone scammers impersonate Iowa sheriff's office staff

DES MOINES  – Scammers have been reported in Boone County and Henry County claiming to be with the County Sheriff’s Office asking for money. The scam is initiated by phone, text, or email and may claim to be from the county’s “warrant division” or another area law enforcement agency. The caller then explains that the victim has failed to address a grievance, which (he or she claims) can be settled for a specific amount of money.
  If receiving such a call, it is important to remember that sheriff’s deputies will never call asking for money.
  The Better Business Bureau encourages consumers to protect themselves by following these tips:
• Do not provide sensitive personal information, such as bank account information, Medicare number, Social Security number or any other personal or financial information to unknown individuals over the phone.
• Wire transfers and prepaid debit transactions cannot be tracked or reversed. Scammers often demand money by wire transfer because it is like sending cash, once the transfer is sent it cannot be undone and the victim is out of the money. Prepaid debit cards are similar to wire transfers. After giving the access numbers to the scammer to remove the funds, they cannot be retrieved. If someone is demanding payment by wire transfer or prepaid debit card, it is a red flag that it may be a scam.
• Contact the local police department to report the impersonation of law enforcement or if threatened by the caller. Impersonating a public official, if convicted, is an aggravated misdemeanor under Iowa Code.
• Do not always believe what shows up on the caller ID. Scammers have spoofing technology that can change the name and phone number that shows up. If unsure whether a call is legitimate, be sure to ask question about the company’s name and contact information and research this information before proceeding.
• If a scammer has personal information, including a personal social security number, or if personal identity may be compromised, report the issue to one of the three major credit bureaus to have a Fraud Alert placed on a personal report; TransUnion 800-680-7289, Experian 888-397-3742 and Equifax 800-525-6285.
• Contact personal bank(s) and credit card companies if this information may have been compromised.
• To verify the existence of obligations on a legitimate loan, contact the loan company directly.
• Before doing business with a payday lender, or any other business, check out the company's BBB Business Review at bbb.org to see its BBB rating, complaint history and more.
• Register the phone number and file a complaint with DoNotCall.gov. File a complaint with The National Do Not Call Registry if still receiving unwanted phone calls after the number is on the registry for 31 days. Record the date and time the calls were made in order to include that in the complaint.
  Better Business Bureau is committed to marketplace trust. BBB Serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Area, founded in 1940 and is one of 112 local, independent BBBs across North America. Reach the state BBB at 515-243-8137 or online at bbb.org/iowa.

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