UTMB Police has received information that an individual claiming to be a police officer has been contacting members of the UTMB community warning them that if they do not pay $2,500 to dismiss a subpoena, a warrant for their arrest will be issued.
If any you receive a similar call, please contact your local FBI Office at (713) 693-5000 and the UTMB Police Department at (409) 772-1111.
Outlined below are other common scams similar to this one. Review them so you will be able to spot and avoid these fraudulent scenarios.
Phone Call or Email Asking For Bail: The request comes as phone call from a friend or loved one’s email address to wire money claiming to be in another country and requesting a large sum of money for a plane ticket, bail money, or other emergency expenses. In reality, a scammer has obtained control of the sender’s email account and contact list/address book, and the victim sends the money directly to the scammer.
Sweepstakes Scam: The victim receives a letter stating that they’ve won a contest, often from a scammer using a variation of a legitimate organization’s name. Enclosed is a check, usually less than $5,000, drawn on an out-of-state bank account. The victim is instructed to call a phone number where they are instructed to deposit the check, saying the money is to pay the taxes on their prize. The victim sends the money to the scammer.
Phishing Scam: An email or phone call is received by the victim who is led to believe it came from their bank. The call or email asks for the victim to verify personal information such as their Social Security and account numbers. A legitimate bank will NEVER ask for this information.
Jury Duty Scam: Victims are contacted by phone by a caller claiming to be an officer of the court. The “officer” says the victim failed to show up for jury duty and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. Once the victim says that they never received a jury duty notice, the caller will ask for personal information to verify. The jury duty scam is on the rise.
IRS Payment Scam: Please beware of any calls you receive from someone saying they are from the IRS. Scammers will try to trick you into sharing private information, and often alter the caller ID so it looks like the call is coming from the IRS office in Washington. They will often threaten to bring in the police or foreclose on your home if you don’t cooperate. The IRS will never employ any of these tactics. They have formal procedures in place to resolve tax issues and never resort to “shake-downs”.
Some tips to remember:
• Ask Questions - If someone calls claiming to be a family member in distress and asks for money, confirm the details they give you with another family member. Additionally, ask the caller questions a stranger couldn’t possibly answer.
• Do Not Give Out Your Personal Information - Never give out personal information such as your social security number, bank accounts or credit card numbers via the phone or internet unless you are certain of who you’re dealing with.
• Do Not Pay Anything for a “Free” Prize - Be suspicious of anyone asking you to pay money in return for something. Scammers often ask for a “small fee” to recover a larger sum of money or to redeem a prize.
• Guard Your Medical Information - Only give your medical insurance information to those who have provided you with medical services.
• Don’t Send Money to Someone You Don’t Know - That includes an online merchant you’ve never heard of or an online love interest who asks for money or favors. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items online, consider a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash or use a wire transfer service.
• The IRS Will Not Call You! All communication with the Internal Revenue Service is done by U.S. mail. The IRS will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. The IRS will never threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.