This press release was sent out by the Danbury Police Department at 2:04 p.m. Friday.
The Danbury Police Department Community Policing Unit is receiving an influx of complaints from victims of phone scams.
The phone scams include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Phone calls from a "anti hacking service" and that they had reason to believe that the victims computer had been hacked. On one occasion, the victim allowed her computer to be remotely controlled by the suspect.
"This happened in Danbury," said Christian Carroccio, Danbury Police spokesman. "She gave him permission. He said he was from Microsoft. When she saw the cursor moving she figured out something was wrong."
Carroccio said people store important account information in their computers, passwords and things they don't want anyone to know. Don't let anyone into your computer.
What to do:
Do document the name and phone number of the person calling you. Scammers will often terminate the call if questioned extensively.
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Do install commercial anti-virus software on your computer and conduct regular scans for viruses and malicious software.
Do not give remote access to your computer, laptop or tablet to an unknown person contacting you via telephone or unsolicited pop-up messages. Only give remote access to reputable companies when you have initiated contact through a verified telephone number or website. Giving remote access to your computer may lead to identity theft, loss of data, or other crimes.
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Do not provide any personal information in response to unsolicited phone calls or e-mails.
Do report fraudulent credit card activity and/or identity theft to the Danbury Police Department.
"In this case, the victim didn't want to leave his name. That was what we heard without more details," Carroccio said. "The people who do these scams do them over and over and over again in town after town."
What to do:
Do not provide any personal information in response to unsolicited phone calls or e-mails.
Do report fraudulent credit card activity and/or identity theft to the Danbury Police Department.
3. Phone calls from unknown numbers who state that they are a relative of the victim. The suspect will actually use the victim's legitimate relative's name. Then explain that they are in need of money and need a wire transfer.In this case, the victim was 86 years old, and the caller said he was calling for the man's great grandson, who was involved in a terrible accident in Mexico. The police wouldn't release the man unless he paid for the accident. The caller knew the great grandson's name. The victim first wired $1,400 to help pay for the accident. Then the man called back and asked for another $2,900, Carroccio said. That was when the elderly victim realized his great grandson was only 14 years old, so he couldn't be driving in Mexico, as the caller claimed.
What to do:
What to do:Do get the full name of the relative supposedly in custody, the name of the law enforcement agency, the name or badge number of the arresting officer, and the criminal charge(s) the relative is being held on. Any legitimate police agency will release this information. Upon asking these questions, the caller may hang up or pretend not to hear you because of a bad connection.
Do not call the phone number given by the caller to verify whether it is a real call.
Do look up the agency phone number online or call the Danbury Police Department. Our dispatch can confirm whether your relative has truly been arrested locally or nation wide.
Do not under any circumstances wire money, provide a credit card number, or give electronic access to your checking account.
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