Regularly, the police department receives calls from the public wanting to report a scam or inquiring if something may be a scam. We want to remind the community to watch out for signs of a scam. Not only should you be watching out for yourself but watching out for vulnerable loved ones in your life. Recently, we have received information from the public that scammers are posing as Human Resource (HR) representatives from their employer. The caller is being asked to update their personal information over the phone or via email to “update their employee profile,” including date of birth, banking institution and routing number. There are a countless amount of scenarios that scammers can use to try and pry information out of you.
Always remember:
1. Never provide your personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller or email.
2. Scammers usually try to create a sense of urgency. Slow down to truly understand what is being requested and by whom.
3. Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
3. Never wire money or provide a stranger with debit or credit card numbers.
4. Verify, verify, verify!
Visit:
FTC.gov – Federal Trade Commission or IC3.gov - Internet Crime Complaint Center for more information.
If you believe you may have been a victim of a scam, please contact our non-emergency line at 415-389-4100.