OTTAWA – The Ottawa Police Department has seen an uptick in telephone scams in the last few months. Many of these scams they say are carried out in hopes of obtaining personal information or banking information from the victim. One common scam is an automated telephone call prompting the victim to purchase an extended warranty on a car. If the victim selects the prompt to purchase a warranty, they are often connected to a live “agent” who will then try to obtain personal information connected to social security numbers, bank cards, or credit cards.
Another common scam they noted was calls claiming to be from the Amazon or Apple Fraud department to verify passcodes or other important information. The scammers will claim that they are wanting the victim to confirm an order, but need specific personal information to cancel it if it is fictitious. The police noted that often the caller will ask for payment with gift cards and money orders. They say you should never send gift cards or wire cash to any persons you are unfamiliar with. When in doubt, hang up on the caller.
