SAVANNAH, GA (April 5, 2017) — Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department officers are warning citizens of a recent phone scam reoccurring in the Savannah area.
The scam involves a prerecorded message offering special interest rates with credit card companies. The recording emphasizes that the victim must “act now” to secure the special rate. Incentives of cash back have also been reported. Once the victim opts in, they are asked to give their personal and financial information, and are often charged fees for services they will not truly receive.
“Community members need to be skeptical of these calls,” said Financial Crimes Sergeant Jeramy Henry. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibits these companies from charging fees before the debt is settled or reduced.
SCMPD recommends the following practices to avoid falling victim to such crimes:
- Never give out your credit card, financial, or personal information over the telephone.
- Never verify your personal information.
- When possible, get the caller’s name and contact information before disconnecting.
- Visit donotcall.gov to add your phone number to the national Do Not Call registry, or to report unwanted calls.
For more information contact the SCMPD Financial Crimes Unit at (912) 651-6735.
If you discover you are the target of a scam, please report it to your local police agency, as well as to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Leave a Reply