Medicare says scammers are targeting Americans during their open enrollment period
Be vigilant if you receive a call from someone who claims to be from Medicare. Officials say it could be a scam.
Scripps News
Massachusetts residents were saved from losing $20,000 thanks to police. Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins said in writing that Lakeville Police and Raynum Police were able to stop residents from depositing $20,000 in cash at Bitcoin ATMs.
The 73-year-old victim had called a scammer. The con man had walked her through a step-by-step process to deposit cash. The written statement said Lakeville Police Detective Robert Schiffer and Raynum Police were able to act quickly and prevent women from depositing their cash.
“This case is a powerful reminder of how sophisticated and manipulative these scams have become,” Perkins said. “Fast detective work, interagency cooperation – including quick responses from Raynham police – and our vigilant families have allowed us to stop this in time. Without the efforts of those combinations, the victims could have lost a significant amount,” the statement said.
Here’s what happened and how you can prevent fraud:
what happened?
On May 29, before 2pm, a written statement said the woman’s family visited the Lakeville Police Station and was concerned about her 73-year-old relative. They said she had withdrawn $20,000 in cash from the bank. She also didn’t answer the phone. The family believed she was being scam.
The written statement said during the investigation, investigators discovered that the con artist had contacted the woman, “convincing her that her computer was infected with the virus.” The con man then convinced the woman that the only way to protect her money is to deposit cash at a Bitcoin ATM. The con artist also instructed the woman not to answer calls from her family.
Schiffer believes the woman’s car is heading for Raynum and contacts Raynum police to keep an eye on him. Police worked together to start checking local ATMs. They were able to find the vehicle at the Colletti Market on North Main Street.
“While both Lakeville and Raynum police were intervening, she stepped in while still calling the con artist, preventing the transaction from being completed,” the police statement said.
Tips to prevent fraud from Lakeville Police Station
Here are the following tips from the Federal Trade Commission:
Sscammers pretends from an organization you know. They may use real names such as the Social Security Administration, the IRS, Medicare, or create names that sound officially. Some people pretend to be a business you know, like utility companies, tech companies, or charities seeking donations.
The scammers say there are issues and prizes. They may say you are in trouble with the government, you are owed money, someone in your family has an emergency, or there is a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there is a problem with one of your accounts and you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say they have won money in lottery and sweepstakes, but have to pay to get it.
The sscammers pressure them to act immediately. You can’t check their stories because they may tell you not to hang up. They may be arresting you, sue you, stealing your driver or business license, or threatening to deport you. They may say your computer is about to be corrupted.
scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist on paying by sending money through Bitcoin, a transfer service, or by loading money on a gift card and providing the card number behind it. Some people will send you a check (which will later turn out to be fake).
If you are scammed, who would you contact?
“The FTC also recommends that you do not click on the link if you receive an email or text message from a company you have a business with. Instead, don’t use a website you know you can trust to look up or look up your phone number.
If you think you are being scam, contact your local police station.
