BLOOMINGTON – Indiana State Police Bloomington District Troopers and Detectives have conducted investigations into a variety of online and/or phone scams that have surfaced in the last two to three months.
Method of Operation for such scams include individuals claiming to represent government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service or other local government agencies requesting some form of financial payment(s).
Other scams include individuals making claims they are affiliated with computer or software companies and are demanding funds to scrub victims’ computers, tablets, or cell phones from viruses.
Scams can also include a home improvement nexus such as roof repair, remodeling, or driveway paving as well as individuals representing themselves as affiliated with charity organizations requesting donations especially following a natural disaster or significant traumatic event.
The Indiana State Police would like Hoosiers to know about the variety of tactics used by scammers to gain trust and obtain personal information. Below are techniques used in the past by those wishing to obtain personal information, and be advised government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Trade Commission, Law Enforcement, or the Office of the Inspector General, will not:
- Suspend your Social Security number.
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately.
- Claim to need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or other benefit increase.
- Pressure you to take immediate action, including sharing personal information.
- Ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash.
- Threaten to seize your bank account.
- Offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account.
- Demand secrecy and have you withdraw cash for pick-up.
- Direct message you on social media.
The Indiana State Police recommends that Hoosiers follow the recommendations from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office.
- Be on alert for communications with dangerous attachments or fraudulent links.
- Treat any emails or texts with subject lines or information with caution.
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments.
- Always verify the email addresses of those who send you emails.
- Use trusted, legitimate government websites to obtain up-to-date information.
- Don’t reveal personal or financial information via email or text message.
- Verify the authenticity of a charity before donating money
The Indiana State Police requests that if you have any doubts as to the inquiry being made, please check with family members and/or contact law enforcement.
Regarding identity theft, victims can seek assistance from the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Unit. The unit provides investigative services to help in the prosecution of identity thieves. The Identity Theft Unit is committed to reducing incidents of identity theft around the state by providing educational resources to teach Hoosiers how to protect themselves from this crime. Hoosiers can visit the Indiana Attorney General Office’s website at https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/.
