I received an email this morning from an Aha! Subscriber offering to share her embarrassing scam story in hopes that it will help someone else. I’m going to leave her name out of it to protect her privacy but please note that the phone scammer obviously sounded very legitimate and had her phone number, address and other personal details and eventually convinced her to send him $1500. Here’s a paraphrase of what happened to her yesterday:
“I got a phone call around 4:00 yesterday from a man with an authoritarian voice who said he was a Deputy Marshall from the federal court in Atlanta. He claimed the following:
- There was a warrant for my arrest for failure to appear to grand jury duty.
- They have my signature.
- I have to appear tonight at the court or I will be arrested.
- I could pay my fine of $1500 over the phone with an electronic certificate.
- If I go to court tonight we can get this taken care of.
There were police type noise like radios in the background and it sounded legitimate. He said he was there to help me. I was petrified. I had no recollection of signing anything or getting a notice as I have been excused from jury duty due to illness. I told him that but he kept going. I called back the number to speak to his boss. Someone answered making me feel this was legitimate. By then I was so freaked out, I actually went to Rite Aide and bought Green Dot gift cards. and gave the cards over the phone. Every time I said this was a scam, he wouldn’t let me get off the phone. This scam went on for over an hour. I was so scared that my fear got the better of me. By the time I could text my husband and friend who’s a lawyer, I had already made the mistakes. There was a tornado warning. I had to get my child from school. I’d hang up and he kept calling back, saying, “ma’am, did we get disconnected, if it happens again an officer will come to your home and take you.” He had my address. It was horrendous. I feel, stupid and ashamed and violated and scared and I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.
Afterwards I called the police and filed a report. The policeman told me this has happened to someone else recently. I’m so angry. I’d appreciate you leaving my name out but I do want the community to know.”