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(Editor’s Note: Township Supervisor Maura Sanders offers a public service announcement below regarding frauds and scams, and how to look out for them. Read on for her thoughts. -jb)
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Happy Thanksgiving, All.
I wanted to share a quick Public Service Announcement. Please take a minute to discuss this with your loved ones over the holidays.
I spent some time this week discussing the types of calls that our Community Police Officers (CPOs) are responding to. They alerted me to the constant and continuous FRAUD and SCAM cases. Please be vigilant, and if something seems off, it probably is.
You can contact our CPOs at:
- Sheriff Deputy, Virnell France (non-emergency only): [email protected], (231) 620-0687 or (231) 223-4525
- Sheriff Deputy, Tony Martinez (non-emergency only): [email protected] or (231) 633-2276 or (231) 223-4525
Here are a few helpful links:
- Grand Traverse County Community Resources
- USA.gov – Scams and Fraud
- Michigan State Police – Fraud Investigation
-Maura Sanders, Peninsula Township Supervisor
From Jane…
One of the scams I hear most about from OMP residents is someone who calls pretending to be someone else to get money or gift cards or financial information out of you. And now with new artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the scammers can even make the voice on the other end of the phone *sound like your grandchild or someone you know. The Caller ID may make it seem like it’s them, too.
If that happens, try to put that person on hold and call your loved one from a different phone to see if it’s actually them. And, of course, never give someone your financial information like a bank account or credit card number.
Here are a few of these types of scams as noted by the USA.gov Scams and Fraud section:
- Government Imposter Scams: Unless you contact them first, government agencies typically initiate communication with you by letter. Unexpected contact or demands through any other method may be a scam.
- IRS Imposter Scams: Scammers pretend you owe the IRS money for taxes and may threaten legal action.
- Social Security Imposter Scams: Scammers claim there is a problem with your Social Security account or promise to increase your benefits.
- Charity Scams: Scammers pretend to be from a real or fake charity and try to get you to contribute.
- Grandparent Scams: Scammers pretend to be a grandchild or other relative who needs emergency financial help.
- Tech Support Scams: Scammers tell you your computer’s security is at risk and try to remotely access your device and steal personal information or ask for payment.
- Banks or Other Companies: Scammers may also pretend to be from your bank or a company you do business with. You might be told you owe money or there is a problem with your account.
If any of these happen, get as much information as you can from them, and as Maura mentioned above, contact our community police officers and let them know, or report the scam through one of the links posted above.
Another big one is email. If you get an unsolicited email from someone you don’t know, just clicking through any link in the email may open your computer up to scammers who can then access your bank accounts, credit cards and other personal information. Or clicking on a link in their email might send a nasty virus into your computer.
One way to figure out if it’s a scam (they usually are) is to hover your cursor over the return email address and see who’s sending the email. It’s likely going to be some odd configuration of numbers and letters.
Be vigilant and aware that scammers are everywhere.
-Jane Boursaw, Editor, Old Mission Gazette
Also Read…
SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
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I recently heard that families/friends could also have a code word. Asking the person who is calling what the specific word is. If the caller does not know it, hang up.