Staff report
BOARDMAN
Township police are warning residents about a scam targeting the elderly.
A 73-year-old woman told police that she received a call from a man Thursday morning who claimed to be from the Society Security Administration. He said the agency was reissuing Social Security cards and needed information to verify her identity.
The caller recited the woman’s address, asking her to verify it and then asked for her date of birth.
She provided that, but when the man asked the woman to provide checking account information, she refused.
She hung up when the he became more aggressive.
“The Social Security Administration doesn’t call people like that,” said Detective Glenn Patton. “If you get a similar call, hang up right away.”
If a person has already received a similar call and provided the information requested, Patton urged them to file a police report and to contact their bank immediately.
Similar incidents were reported in Pittsburgh last year.
Comments
Penalties need to be increased for these scams . Right now the rewards are great and the scammers don't have much to fear .
Got an answering machine so if a person calls who is not a relative, friends or person whom has been asked to call means scammers who call most of them will hang up so that a tracer can't be put on the line next time they call. My mobile phone has an automatic number recorder should any person try a scam via mobile phone. Posted by Lynda