WESTFIELD – A woman who failed to check with her brother before she paid an extortion demand has recovered the $1,000 she sent to a scammer after city police intervened.
City police report that the woman left a note at the station before she sent a money order to a caller who had told her that her brother would be killed unless she sent him $1,000.
Police were not able to reach the woman before she completed a Western Union money transfer but Det. Brian Freeman reports he spoke with her after she sent the money and convinced her to call her brother. The woman’s brother told her that he was fine and in no danger.
Freeman found that the call apparently came from 413-535-9579 but points out that software is available to ‘spoof’ a phone’s caller identification feature so any number of callers from anywhere in the world can appear to be calling from a local number.
The number the woman’s call apparently came from has been reported in relation to scams frequently. An Internet search for scams associated with the Holyoke number reveals that many others have received scam calls, ostensibly from the same number.
Freeman was able to contact Western Union and the woman recovered her money.
Police report in a news release that callers report scams “nearly every day” and variations on the theme the woman responded to are common.
Some victims, police report, are told that their loved one has been involved in an accident and the targets of the scam are told “If you don’t send us the money it will be your fault if they die.”
In another variation, a scammer will claim to have abducted a loved one and targets are told “something to the effect of ‘We have your brother, you need to meet us at Walmart and give us $2,000 or he will die.’”
Another recent scam involves a caller who claims to be calling from the Gas and Electric Light Department and threatens immediate suspension of electricity service unless a payment is made immediately with a money transfer service such as a ‘Green Dot’ card.
Police advise that residents not send any payments via immediate and irretrievable money transfer options in response to a conversation which was not initiated by the resident.
They warn that the scammers are professional and can often be very convincing so the best response to a call which seems hard to believe is usually to just hang up.
Police advise that no money be sent without verification of a caller’s claim and point out that calling police is often the quickest and most reliable way to resolve concerns.
The Westfield Gas and Electric warns the public that any WG&E customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment will receive written notice that includes what actions they must take to maintain service. There are several payment options available to customers, all of which involve dealing directly with the Westfield Gas and Electric.
