– 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.
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… Read more »
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.… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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,… Read more »
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.