January 2010 - Bail Out The Grandson Scam - Citizens still being scammed in Iowa - It happened again in O'Brien County

The Scams listed below represent scams that have occurred to our local citizens of O'Brien County and other scams that are mentioned as potentially occurring in the future to surrounding cities and counties with the Northwest Iowa area

Click on the links below to open the scam(s).

REMEMBER you should NEVER GIVE out your PERSONAL identifying INFORMATION, where you bank, dates of birth or anything that will give away information to your bank accounts, phone records, etc. If you are called about some of these issues tell them you will not give it out. If you are unsure if a business or banking institution, phone company wanting this information call them using phone numbers from the regular phone book or directory assistance. Don't use the phone numbers they provide as they may be BOGUS!!! If you are unsure about these types of calls please call your local law enforcement and report it PRIOR to conducting any type of business. Local law enforcement may have already had previous complaints and may advise you of the status!

FEBRUARY 2009
**RECENTLY OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED OTHER SCAMS INVOLVING "DO NOT CALL" WHERE THE CALLER IS ATTEMPTING TO
OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM THE VICTIM TO BE PLACED ON THE NATIONAL "DO NOT CALL" LIST.

ANOTHER SCAM: THE CALLER SAYS THEIR FROM THE "SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION" IS CIRCULATING THE STATE
ATTEMPTING TO GET PERSONAL INFORMATION AND BANK ACCOUNT ROUTING NUMBERS AND CHECKING/SAVINGS NUMBERS
TO ASSIST THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE "STIMULUS MONEY" AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1-23-09 - CALLER REC'D A CALL FROM A GUY IN CANADA WHO TOLD HER HER GRANDSON WAS IN JAIL AND NEEDED CASH.
SHE TOLD THE CALLER SHE KNEW THIS WASN'T TRUE AND HUNG UP.

10-08-08 - O'BRIEN COUNTY CITIZENS - RECENT LOCAL SCAMS 10-08-08 - BAIL OUT YOUR GRANDSON SCAM HITS AGAIN! A
CITIZEN RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL ON WEDNESDAY, 10-08, FROM WHOM HE THOUGHT WAS HIS GRANDSON. THE CALLER
SAID HE WAS IN TORONTO CANADA, THAT HE HAD GOTTEN PICKED UP AND NEEDED $3000 TO GET OUT AND GET HOME. THE
VICTIM ADVISED IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE HIS GRANDSON AND HE DID WIRE THE MONEY TO A WALMART STORE IN TORONTO
CANADA. HIS GRANDSON WAS SUPPOSE TO CALL HIM TODAY WHEN HE GOT HOME AND THE VICTIM NEVER RECEIVED A CALL.
THE VICTIM CALLED HIS SON AND FOUND OUT HIS GRANDSON HAS BEEN HERE IN IOWA ALL WEEK

9/18/2008 - PHONE SCAM REPORTED- Calls on a cell phone recieved from 818-474-8333, The caller never leaves a message, when
the caller returns the call the calls are offering to send the person answering the phone a free $300 gasoline card. The only catch is
that you need to provide them with your credit card information to cover a $3.90 shipping fee. THIS IS A SCAM . YOU DO NOT GET
SOMETHING FOR NEXT TO NOTHING!

9/2/2008 - Local citizens are getting all types of telephone calls and letters and emails that are telling them they have WON A PRIZE!!
and to get this prize all they have to do is "provide them some information" that will help them get their prize(s)! REMEMBER THESE
ARE ALL SCAMS! YOU DO NOT GET "FREE MONEY" ANYTIME AND BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION NOR
SEND THEM A "SMALL FEE" FOR ASSISTING YOU IN GETTING YOUR PRIZE. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS OR YOU MAY BE A "NEW
VICTIM".

7/29/2008 - Local citizen received a letter in their mailbox about the were "recipeints of $10.5 million. If the citizen would give the writer
half of the $10.5 million he would see that it would be delivered to their bank account. All the writer of the letter needed was the
recipient's bank account numbers, social security number and other personal information. THIS IS A SCAM as well. Do not reply. If
possible shred the documents and DO NOT RESPOND with any information.

4/27/2008 - A local citizen recieved a phone call about her "Utility bill" being late. She was asked to send $25.00 but the citizen did not
give out any personal information nor send any money. There are other more infrequent scams being done every day that involve YOU
THE CITIZEN being asked to give out personal information, banking information and credit card information. DO NOT GIVE IT OUT!

02-2008 - BAIL OUT YOUR GRANDSON SCAM HITS AGAIN! A CITIZEN RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE WHOM
SHE THOUGHT WAS HER GRANDSON. THE CALLER SAID HE WAS IN TORONTO CANADA, THAT HE HAD GOTTEN PICKED UP
AND NEEDED $3000 TO GET OUT AND GET HOME. THE VICTIM ADVISED IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE HIS GRANDSON AND SHE DID
WIRE THE MONEY TO A WALMART STORE IN TORONTO

8/22/2007 - A local citizen has received phone calls from a person who identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to
report for Jury duty and that a warrant is our for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller say he'll need
some information for "verification purposes" - your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number. THIS IS WHEN
YOU SHOULD HANG UP THE PHONE. IT'S A SCAM!

October 5, 2011 - Complainant reports calls on their cell phone which showed up as a 0 (zero) on their caller ID. The message said that because of security reasons their card was being deactivated. They were prompted to press "1" on their cell phones but they did not. If they had pressed "1" they would have been prompted to provide their account numbers, etc. THIS IS A SCAM

This page last modified on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

November 15, 2011 - Complainant reports recieving a letter from "Sun Life" about a Prize Award Claim - advising of a winning and in order to get the money they have to pay the "Tax Agent" a certain amount to claim the prize.  THIS IS A SCAM