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Fake Federal Phone Calls Plague Area

By Brian Hagen

08/07/2014

(KNZA)--A new scam, preying on the fears of those targeted, is making it's way across the local area.

Brown County Sheriff John Merchant says this latest scam is being committed by a caller, with a heavy foreign accent, who claims that the person called is a suspect in a federal investigation.

The message, left on home answering machines, claims that the call must be returned or legal consequences will be faced. Merchant says it appears that a return call will result in hefty phone fees, which the scammer will likely pocket.

In a similar scam, the caller, who reaches a would be victim's cell phone, identifies himself as a federal agent and claims that a federal warrant has been issued for the person called. In order to keep federal agents from arriving at that person's job to make an arrest, Merchant says the caller says a payment, by providing personal financial information, must be made. Merchant says no such information should be provided, as it's clearly a rip-off attempt.

Merchant says local area codes and prefixes can also be faked by the scammers in order for their would be victims to believe the call is originating in the local area.

Residents who are subjected to any scam attempt should notify law enforcement of the potential crime.

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