Scam Warning, July 1

CCSO release – The Coos County Sheriff’s Office has been receiving numerous calls about various scams. In one scam, a person chats with a profile that appears to be someone over the age of 18. They ask for explicit photos, then after sent the victim gets a reply that they are the parents of the minor child that they were sent to and want money to not press charges. **THIS IS A SCAM** as well as a reminder not to send any images to someone you do not know. The other one’s making the rounds again is the Social Security scam, where they tell you that your Social Security is in jeopardy if you don’t pay them in gift cards, and the Microsoft Scam, stating that your computer firewall needs renewal to the tune of $499.00  They are attempting to get account numbers, or gift cards. ANYONE that calls on the phone asking for payment in gift cards is a scam. ANYONE that calls and wants account numbers is a scam. So, how can you fight this? Set your cell phone to not accept blocked numbers. Home telephones may be able to be programmed the same way through your phone company. Screen all your calls if you have a landline and let the answering machine pick them up. Do not answer ANY number that you do now know, let them go to voice mail if you have a cell phone. Report any scam calls to: http://www.doj.state.or.us/finfraud/engexplanation.shtml  Or 877-877-9392. This is the Oregon Department of Justice. Please, be careful and do not give any personal information out by phone.