News Staff
Oakmont residents learned how to recognize today’s most common scams during a presentation held Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Berger. John Guaraglia of Santa Rosa Police Department Community Outreach was joined by Community Outreach volunteer Patrick Brady, Detective Cristian Zaragoza and several other SRPD officers, who shared prevention tips and answered questions from the audience.
Related: VIDEO: 9-1-26 – Town Hall on Fraud and Scams
One of the fastest-growing threats in Sonoma County is the “courier scam,” said Detective Zaragoza. According to the detective, it often begins with an alarming phone call where the caller may claim that a loved one is in trouble, a warrant has been issued for arrest, or the victim’s money is at risk and is told to withdraw cash, buy gold or prepare a package for an “agent” who will come to their home.
“That would never happen. That’s not how you get rid of a warrant,” said Zaragoza.
The story may sound convincing because scammers can find names, relatives and other personal details online, the presenters said. They may also impersonate real police officers or use technology that makes a legitimate phone number appear on caller ID.
“They try to draw some sort of connection with you, and they make it seem like you have to correct this in a hurry,” Zaragoza said. He said that scammers do not want their victim to stop, think or consult someone they trust. To do this, they keep the victim on the phone, tell them not to speak with bank employees or threaten immediate consequences if the victim doesn’t cooperate.
Legitimate police departments, government agencies and businesses do not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold or packages of cash, Zaragoza said, and instructed that the appropriate response to such demands should be to hang up.
The presentation also covered other scams, which include:
- Romance scams, in which an online acquaintance gradually begins asking for money.
- Fake bank, Amazon, IRS or package-delivery messages containing dangerous links.
- Fraudulent pop-ups that claim a computer or phone has been compromised.
- Card-skimming devices placed over payment terminals or ATMs.
- Door-to-door workers offering unsolicited window cleaning, vehicle repairs or other services.
- Fake jobs that ask someone to deposit checks and forward part of the money elsewhere.
Residents were reminded to never give an unexpected caller their PIN, account number, Social Security number or other personal information, and to not use a phone number or website supplied in a suspicious message.
“What we suggest strongly is for you to compile, if you don’t already have one, a list of known valid phone numbers,” Officer Brady said, and recommended that bank information should top that list.
Presenters recommended using tap-to-pay when available. Zaragoza also recommended using a credit card rather than a debit card for online purchases.
For those who may have been targeted, officers said to save texts, emails, screenshots, receipts and financial records, and then report any loss to police as quickly as possible.
“The more information that we’re given upfront, the easier it makes us to work on these leads and work these cases,” said Zaragoza.
A video of this presentation is available on the OVA website at oakmontvillage.com/videos.