Scam Phone Call, Cortland

DATE & TIME: 07-06-2017/ 0846

LOCATION: Cortland, Nebraska                    

OFFENSE: Scam Phone Call / Attempted Theft By Deception           

CASE #: 2017-3596

A resident of Cortland, Nebraska called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and reported she had received a telephone call and the caller left a message on her answering machine stating his name was “Steve” with “McCarthy, Burgess, and Wolff” and for her to call him back, leaving a number with an “888” area code.

The resident owes no debt and had not received any written notification of collection from anyone so she called the Gage County Attorney’s Office, who directed her to speak with an investigator from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office.

In this particular case, there is an actual collection agency with the name of McCarthy, Burgess, and Wolff”, however their website does not list an “888” area code to contact them.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to use caution when answering or dealing with persons calling them and they do not recognize the telephone number.  Often, the caller will pressure the resident to make a quick payment to settle a debt they do not owe or they will attempt to obtain personal or financial information, which they will then use to open fraudulent credit accounts or access the person’s bank accounts.

Anyone who receives a scam or suspicious call is encouraged to contact their local police department or contact the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and speak with an investigator.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310