– Press release from Bishop Police Department
Recently, the Bishop Police Department dispatchers have been taking an increased number of calls from residents reporting phone scams.
Our area has been the target of two popular and continuous internet and phone scams lately that we would like to warn you about.
COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SCAM
Technical support scams are telemarketers impersonating major computer companies. They will call you or send you an email and force you into believing that your computer is riddled with viruses, spyware and other issues.
These scammers may even ask you to allow them remote access to your computer in order to fix these problems. After doing so, they will “lock” your computer, and attempt to extort the owner by demanding a large payment, sometimes hundreds of dollars, in order to release the computer back to your control.
These cyber crooks may direct you to obtain a cash value gift card or provide a credit card number for payment. If you receive fraudulent tech support call, you are advised to hang up on the caller, even if they use your name or mention other personal details.
Here is what you need to know to protect yourself:
• Microsoft and its partners will never phone a consumer or send a personal email warning about a virus on your computer.
• Do not be fooled if a computer hacker posing a computer tech support has your personal information including your name and address or knows the operating system of your computer. This information is obtained by these individuals through public phone directories, and they may be guessing your operating system by suggesting popular ones.
• Do not follow directions in an unsolicited phone call or email to download anything onto your computer. Do not click on links listed in messages to websites, provide usernames and passwords, or agree to any kind of security subscription services. Legitimate computer tech support companies will never ask you for passwords, or access to online banking information.
If you believe that you have already been the victim of this type of computer crime, please contact a reputable computer repair company to resolve the issue and remove any program that the computer hackers may have tricked you into installing.
IRS IMPOSTER SCAM
Another scam that is continuing to circulate in the area is the IRS impersonation scam. With this scam, a caller may angrily demand immediate payment over the phone for an outstanding tax bill that you never actually received.
The caller will threaten to bring in local police, often mentioning the Bishop Police Department, and claim that you will arrested for not paying the amount owed.
Here is what you need to know, from the IRS website:
• The IRS will never call you and demand payment over the phone, and they will not call you about taxes owed without first having mailed a bill to you.
• The IRS will never demand that you pay taxes without providing you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount that you owe.
• The IRS will never require you to use a specific payment method, like a prepaid cash gift or debit card.
• The IRS will never ask you for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone. If you have been target by this scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their FTC Complaint Assistant at FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.
The Bishop Police Department would like to remind you to be vigilant against phone and email scams. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Bishop Police Department at (760) 873-5866.
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Trouble : Been there,done that……Maybe just my own experiences,but doubt I’ll be doing it again anytime soon…back in the 90’s,loaned a guy a truck to go to Bakersfield to move his stuff to a new town,his reasoning was to “get away” from the druggies and lifestyle he’d gotten into….instead of gone for 2 days was gone for 5 days with no phone calls or explanation….another time back then,a couple I’d gotten to know and had come by my house a few times,claiming to be “starting over”….came home one day from work,my place had been burglarized,and strangely,that couple I’d gotten to know ?….waaa-laaa…never seen or heard from them again….and even lately,here in the Owens Valley,a guy I was working with,that I’d heard “rumors” about drug use,kept him busy finding him odd jobs,and seemingly doing well…..at one of the jobs I’d gotten him….a check came up missing,and the person that he’d given to to to try to cash it for him,turned out he knew who the check belonged to and let them know about what was happening…..and this “friend” I had still denied what he did,more or less trying to blame ME for stealing it and throwing me under the bus at a job I had for 12 years.I could go on,but I won’t….I understand your concern for those addicted to drugs or alcohol.I myself hope they get help for themselves and their families…there are programs available to help with that…but,due to my experiences with trying to “help” anyone doing that anymore,if I get in the “helping” mood,I buy a big box of Kirkland dog bisquits and drive around town and give out “doggie treats” to the local canines.
Yes lower inyo, I would try to help .
You could also. Addiction does happen over night and can last a lifetime.
If someone is looking for help ,the first thing they need to do is get the drug out of them. Help them by getting them away from it.
AA meetings are free and open to all addicts. But they do suggest you are clean for five days before you attend.
Trouble : Does your wanting to help out those with addictions also include those with alcohol problems,and especially those that put innocent lives in danger by driving and DUI ? Reason I ask is I can remember a LONG time ago the two that were in Mammoth Lakes McDonald’s drive-thru that were reported by the cashier as drunk,and unless I’m wrong,later pulled over and arrested for DUI with an over the top BAC….and you defending the driver of the car,even bad-mouthing the McDonalds cashier (and her “low-paying job”) for turning them in to the MLPD…remember that one ?…Well,here’s your chance to help….maybe look up this guy….help him out….give him a job….and if he lost his vehicle to impound due to the previous DUI,loan him your car or truck to get around,and let him drive off your insurance on your vehicle…..what have you got to lose ?
P.S. lower inyo, the only people that are in jail for drug charges , are the ones that can’t afford bail . That’s a fact!
Low Inyo , wake up! Most people with addictions are working all around you. The only person they are hurting is their self.
Trouble ;…NEWS FLASH !!!!!!…Most drug abusers are also drug DEALERS….at least to the point,if they happen to get ahold of some bad dope for themselves,usually turn it quickly to another addict..using that $$$$ and buying more for themselves and hoping for better stuff…and if that doesn’t work out for them,it’s usually an innocent victim to seek..in some other way,usually theft..sometimes worse….Trouble,ask anyone in Law Enforcement if that’s not how it goes most of the time…Most abusers aren’t going out to find a job,get paid,then buy their dope with their own money when pay-day rolls around in a couple weeks.In most cases,if someone has a drug habit,gets arrested for possession,and wants to seek help for their addiction,help is there for them IF they want it….both IN jail and when they get out.It’s the ones that don’t want or seek help and re-offend,not just with more possession charges,but other crimes involving innocent victims that land them in the can over and over and over again…check out the Sheriffs “citizen RIMS” page,take a look at the faces and the arrests,and how many of them are “unemployed”…and the charges,and see how many are for simple possession….
Lower Inyo , I did read the story and was thrilled that someone I’m our justice system was actually trying to help the people that need it the most. Locking people up and making things worse for a addict is hardly my defantion of help!
Trouble;.I’m not trying to be insensative with what I’m saying,but you can’t group all drug users,abusers and dealers as people that “need help the most”.Sometimes,IMO, able to put those that are victimized by many of them a little higher up that ladder.My years living in a town over-run by meth-use back in the 90’s,after being a victim myself to a robbery,burglaries 3 times,and seeing a couple people I knew suffer much worse,one being shot in the head and placed underneath some stairs for the $40.00 he had in his pocket,maybe I don’t have the same pity you seem to have for many of them.The ones that want help CAN GET help with programs offered,both when they are incarserated and when they get back out onto the streets….problem is,many of them either don’t want or think they need help,they continue with their old friends,habits and lifestyle…I agree,the revolving door going on with our Countries court system doesn’t seem to be working too well,but no one can help anyone that doesn’t want to help themselves.
Lower inyo, you got a way of turning people’s words around that I think is unfair. Just because I think people with addictions shouldn’t be locked up, doesn’t mean i think it’s ok to sell drugs or worse.
Did you ever see that bumper sticker that says ” be careful who you hate, it might be someone you love”
No one is bashing anyone slow-inyo. It was a story I thought others might like. This is the last time I’m gonna take the bait with you.
Please stay up wind from the dust that blows off the Owens Dry Lake bed.
Low Inyo , I did the read the article and was much more impressed with his way of thinking than yours.
High Water and Trouble…Read the article and what this Police Chief is doing with his plans and resources to be able to do what He’s doing.But for those that actually want to help,if they don’t have their own personal agenda for hoping all drugs are legalized,and for areas like the Owens and Mono Counties that don’t have or offer this type of thing through the Law Enforcement agencies to help out repeat drug users and offenders,thing for you to do is step up to the plate yourselves.When you see or hear of these repeat offenders getting locked up either for their drug possession or repeating their numerous crimes due to their drug addictions,offer your OWN help to them….visit them and their friends in jail and take them under your wings..when they get out,offer them a job….and/or a room in your families home to live…If you check out the Counties Sheriffs “Citizen RIMS” there are plenty to choose from…Don’t keep bashing the local agencies for arresting these offenders and the crimes they do..or for making drug and DUI arrests.Do your OWN part…and let us all know how it works out for you.
High Water, that is one of the best stories I have ever read concerning our war on drugs. You ought forward that to our local police folks! Thanks
Please read this story about a wonderful Police Chief.
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/the-war-drugs-over-lost-meet-police-chief-starting-revolution/
Do what I do; don’t answer the phone- guess what? No more phone scams
And the ever popular “hi Grandma, I need bail money” scam.
None of you have lived until you get 5 or more calls a morning from India, asking about your “vaginal mesh lawsuit”.
It’s getting to a point where if I don’t know your number on the caller ID, i won’t answer the phone.
I got one of those IRS phone-call scams picked up on an answering machine a couple weeks ago,saying if I don’t pay them $1,000.00 within 24 hours…by credit card only….that I would be sued by the Federal Government.The number they left for me to call back to…..which I did not….was 1-509-392-6376…
Do they still call your phone after that? I found some reports filed at that number at https://www.callercenter.com/509-392-6376.html. I think if you are not answering their calls, they will consider your number as a bad number, and maybe they will trash your number from their calling list. In the contrary, when you answer their calls, you will be marked as a “live” number, so they will add your number to their calling list. (Based on my own search) CMIIW
Gregory…..Only got the call one time….I have one of those old fashion answering machines(and an old 70’s model land-line…. and no cell phone) from the 80’s and NEVER pick up untill I hear who’s calling….and even then rarely answer.
Good if you do that. I believe that if you are not answering every of stranger call, then they won’t call you again. This is my own experience, though.