Fake ‘DCSO’ phone scammers still hitting area hard
There are still active telephone scammers working the Central Oregon area, saying they are calling from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office or other local law enforcement agency, officials said Wednesday.
This person will say that there is a warrant or some kind of fine related to a missed court date.
Most recently, victims are instructed to go to Fred Meyer — Wal Mart has also been used in the past — and purchase some type of loadable charge card or debit card, then load that card with a specified amount of money.
The suspect will then instruct the victim to give them the card number over the phone.
The suspect using the number alone can withdraw all the money attached to that card almost immediately. The money is generally taken by someone outside of the United States and it is not recoverable by law enforcement.
Lt. Joe DeLuca said,”This is another reminder that NO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WILL CALL YOU ON THE TELEPHONE AND ASK FOR MONEY OR INSTRUCT ANYONE TO LOAD A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD FOR THEM. IF YOU RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS REGARDING THIS ISSUE OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL OUR DISPATCH CENTER (541-693-6911 ) PRIOR TO FOLLOWING ANY INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
