In the Northville Township, residents are being hit by a wave of increasingly cunning cons and scams, with losses reaching alarmingly high amounts. Some folks have been duped into losing cash, gold bars and even bitcoin. According to local police, these scams come in the form of phone calls or deceitful emails. They are urging people to stay alert and be cautious.
It seems that the fraudsters have a common modus operandi. First, they tell the unsuspecting victims that they are under investigation for an alleged crime or have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. Next, they ask the targets to stay on the phone, warning them not to tell anyone about the conversation.
Once they have successfully created a sense of fear and urgency, they ask for immediate payment, usually demanding bitcoin or cash transfers. In a shocking turn of events, certain scammers have even shown up at the victims’ homes to collect their ill-gotten loot. These criminals are so audacious that they’ve managed to filch nearly $300,000 in cash and bitcoin from one local, even making off with gold bars.
Digital scams are also becoming more prevalent, with numerous phishing emails tricking residents into believing they’ve overpaid on their PayPal account or something similar. Take a local resident’s case, for example, where they were swindled out of $50,000 in cash and an additional $50,000 in bitcoin in this manner.
Thankfully, law enforcement is on high alert and is taking steps to combat these despicable crimes. By making use of license plate reader technology, officers have been able to track down and apprehend fraudsters as far afield as Cleveland, Ohio. They even managed to recover $50,000 in stolen cash.
Yet, the police can only do so much and it is up to residents to remain vigilant. They urge everyone to keep the following in mind:
- Verify the caller: Remember, the police or any official agency will never demand payments over the phone.
- Be careful of remote access: Never ever let unknown individuals have remote access to your computer.
- Secrecy demand: If someone asks you to stay on the line and keep things secret while making a payment, it’s probably a scam.
- Immediate payment demand: Genuine folks do not pressure for immediate payments, particularly in unconventional forms such as bitcoin or gift cards.
- Remember: When it comes to your personal information and money, “Don’t give it, don’t send it.”
Residents can report any suspicious activity or potential scams by contacting their local police department at the provided number.
