Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
HOW TO AVOID CON-MEN AND PHONE FRAUD
Con artists frequently target older citizens who may have substantial bank accounts. The tactics used to entice the victim to withdraw the cash are many and varied, but certain elements are almost always present: the matter is usually urgent, and there is some pressing need for secrecy. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office offers a Fraud and Con Games Awareness Program, free of charge. The program is suitable for church, civic, or community groups. Contact the Community Services Unit of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at (850) 651-7420 for more information.
This form is intended for the use of employees financial institutions who may become concerned if a customer asks to make a large cash withdrawal. Please feel free to duplicate this form as necessary.
WARNING:
You could be the intended victim of a confidence man or bunco artist. Please read the following questions before making any large cash withdrawal from your account. If you answer "Yes" to any of the following seven (7) questions, you should give careful consideration before proceeding with the transaction:
Have you been asked by a stranger to make a withdrawal?
Were you contacted or visited by someone claiming to be a Law Enforcement Officer, Federal Agent, Bank Examiner, or Auditor?
Were you asked to help in an investigation to help catch a crooked employee?
Were you told to give the money to the agent at your home or another location?
Have one or more strangers offered to share a large amount of money with you? Did this offer involve you advancing cash as a measure of good faith?
Has a stranger accompanied you to the bank? Is someone supposed to meet you outside of the bank?
Have you been told not to tell
anyone why you are withdrawing money?
IF YOU ANSWER "YES" TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS ABOVE, YOU COULD BE THE TARGET OF FRAUD OR THEFT! Please ask the teller to contact a Bank Officer or Law Enforcement before you proceed with the transaction.
TELEPHONE SECURITY TIPS: Who's Listening?
When conducting any kind of sensitive business by telephone, do not use a cordless or cellular phone. It is surprisingly simple for eavesdroppers to tune in cordless phones within a block or two of the telephone's locations...or cellular phones within several miles of the tower. Some crooks make it a habit to use radio scanners to "fish" for information from cordless and cellular phones. If they happen to tune in one of your calls, what will they hear?
You do not want then to hear any account numbers, PIN codes, telephone or other credit card numbers, or any kind of personal information. Do not make the mistake of thinking it's safe to enter any of those numbers on the telephone keypad, as you would in placing a credit card call or in accessing your bank account. It's a simple matter for a crook to tape record the beeps, then call his own pager, play the tape, and watch the numbers appear. The crooks use voice mail services, the internet, word-of-mouth, and other techniques to share numbers that they have stolen. When conducting business by telephone, use a "land-line", preferably from home.
By the same token, beware of "shoulder surfers" when entering numbers on a pay phone or ATM machine. Its a good idea to shield the keypad from view, and shift your body position before entering the last few digits, just in case someone with binoculars has found an angle of view.
For more information on Crime Prevention please call Kathleen Larney in Crime Prevention at 609-2005.
This advice courtesy of Sheriff Charlie Morris, Okaloosa County, Florida.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's
Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410