Phone Scam

DATE & TIME: 12-11-2018 @ 11:30 am

LOCATION: Rural Cortland, Nebraska

OFFENSE: Phone Scam    

CASE #: 2018-6231

A resident of rural Cortland contacted a Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator to report she had received an automated telephone call from 210-361-1315 on Tuesday, 12-11-2018 at approximately 11:30 am. The automated message was cut off at the start, but a male with a foreign accent told her on the message to “call immediately to avoid legal action.” When she called back a male with a foreign accent asked for her to verify her first and last name. The Cortland resident did not provide that information, but asked what other information they would be asking for and was told they would need her to confirm her social security number for them. She was now fully convinced it was a scam and disconnected the call without providing any information.

This type of call is a “phishing” scam, wherein the suspect gets the victim to provide personal, confidential, or financial information on a fraudulent pretext. This information is then used by the suspect to either get the victim to send money or provide enough information that a crime of identity theft can be committed, with the suspect opening credit accounts or making purchases using the information unwittingly provided by the victim.

If you receive an unsolicited call asking for personal, confidential, or financial information, do not provide it to the person. Contact a family friend or financial adviser and seek their advice. If you believe you have been scammed and have lost money or provided the suspect with information they should not have, contact the local police department or call the Gage County Sheriffs’ Office and ask to speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310