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Suffolk Cops: Phone Scam Ensnares Locals

County issues fresh warnings after five people in the past 24 hours are hit by a scam involving a caller convincing people to wire money to a family member in danger.

A months-old phone scam where callers convince locals that they need to wire money to a family member in need was recorded five times in the last 24 hours, prompting Suffolk County Police to issue a fresh warning about the racket.

"In one scenario, the caller claims that they have just been in a motor vehicle crash with a relative of the victim who refuses to pay for the damage," Suffolk police said in a statement. "Other scenarios may include the caller claiming a family member of the victim has been arrested and needs money for bail, or a family member owes someone money. The victim is asked to withdraw money from an ATM and the caller will guide them to an institution where they can wire money."

Though police have issued warnings about this scam since November 2012, similar schemes have been reported in the past few years.

If you receive a similar call, call the police immediately.

Joel Dreher January 16, 2013 at 04:50 am
Phonies!
Earl January 16, 2013 at 08:00 pm
How do people still fall for this kind of stuff!! Smarten up folks!
CommackMom January 16, 2013 at 08:29 pm
Earl, these scammers prey upon the elderly. I can totally see how the scam works with the right 'mark'.
K. January 16, 2013 at 08:50 pm
I remember similar types of scams being around when today's "elderly" were middle aged; short of having acquired severe cognitive deterioration, they really should know better having seen it all already. (And if a family member is THAT cognitively compromised, he or she should probably be supervised and not have unrestricted communication capabilities.)
Michael Dwells January 17, 2013 at 10:01 am
This scam's been around for a long time already. I have read reports on this scam posted at http://www.callercenter.com that dated way back 2009 and it's a big wonder how they're still able to continue even today.
michael mirra January 17, 2013 at 03:38 pm
There is another scam on the internet, not the phone. About a year ago a block came on my screen that due to websites my computer had been the local law enforcement had blocked my computer & to free it I needed to get a money pak for $200 & type the # into a space they provided.
About an hour later, I turned on the computer & Norton Virus protection said it had removed a virus. My compter was fine. At work I was telling someone & another worker said the same thing happened to him. He paid someone $75 to get it out of his computer. If you pay them, they will just take the $ & leave your computer blocked anyway. If you get such a block on your computer, it is a scam. It is not law enfircement.
bradon January 17, 2013 at 07:25 pm
like on http://www.ruscammer.com/2124567890/index.html with this the "computer maintenance" dept called about my Computer. I laughed. He said. "you are laughing" I hung up

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Christine Stevens, LSA Henrietta Homes and Properties, Inc Saint James (631) 879-7018Read More www.henriettahomes.com
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Vick w June 18, 2013 at 08:18 am
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Vick w June 18, 2013 at 08:22 am
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knee jerk June 17, 2013 at 08:58 am
Creten?
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