Another warning to the public: Eugene Police have received half a dozen reports of scams in the past week alone. That doesn’t account for the people who don’t report they have been victimized. Eugene Police are continuing to hear of scams in which the perpetrators impersonating officers, IRS agents, and financial institutions. In the most recent case, the suspect is telling the victim that they need to send money for bail, or that they have a warrant. It is easy to get taken in, even if you are usually suspicious of scams. These scams try to alarm you or scare you. Don’t be fooled. Call the EPD non-emergency line, 541.682.5111 if you live in Eugene and get such a call.
Scammers trick you into handing over your cash, personal I.D., checking account numbers, and credit card information any way they can.
The Eugene Police Department would like to remind people to follow their instincts and never feel embarrassed about confirming the identity of a caller. This can be accomplished by contacting the represented agency directly via a published contact phone number and asking to speak with the individual directly or confirm the information with the agency’s non-emergency phone number. EPD’s non-emergency number is 541.682.5111. To report a scam, you can also call the EPD crime tip number at 541.682.8888. Also, if you receive a call of this nature, please report the activity to www.ic3.gov.
These cases provide an opportunity for a reminder on how to avoid becoming the victim of fraud. Scams are cyclical in nature. Eugene Police recommend to remain careful and skeptical of callers:
• If someone asks you for your cash, credit card numbers or other personal information-especially if you don’t know them well-the safest move is to refuse their request and check with the police, or find an independent way to contact a legitimate business and follow up rather than responding right away to the caller.
• Don’t give out personal or financial information to someone who calls you. If you are unsure, hang up and independently find the phone number of the alleged represented agency and call yourself. A law enforcement agency will not ask you for this type of information or request that money be sent by way of money order for any reason.
• Beware of high pressure techniques, such as the need to give information or make a decision on the spot.
• If it sounds quirky or weird, it probably is.
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