Beware, scams abound

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

— They take various forms, but each promises something too good to be true.

Scams - dishonest schemes, frauds - are being reported with more regularity to local law enforcement agencies.

Two incidents were reported this week.

“We receive multiple complaints about what appears to be scams,” Police Chief Tim Ledbetter said.

One this week involved a couple who traveled through Pea Ridge and found items including a chain saw missing from the back of their pickup truck when they arrived home. It was reported it on Craigs List and someone answered the ad claiming he was in Evergreen, Ill., and had found the chainsaw. He told them if they would mail him a money order for $96, the cost of shipping, he’d send it to them. The couple said they were unable to contact the man again after sendingthe money order, which they purchased locally.

Another incident involved a woman who received a letter including a check for $3,380 and enlisting the woman to be a mystery shopper. The scam involved depositing the check, then purchasing a money order to “test Western Union” and send the money order to an address on the letter. It also involved purchasing items from a larger department store.

With that type of scam, Ledbetter said the check is usually bogus and the money ends up being stolen from the victim of the scam.

He said one scam recently involved a woman being told her grandson was in jail in a foreign country and asking her to wire money for his bail.

“If it’s something you haven’t ordered or initiated, stay away from it,” he advised. “Research the information.

“If people just send you money, that should through up flags,” he warned.

News, Pages 1 on 12/08/2010