Los Angeles police warned people today about telephone-based con artists posing as bill collectors from utilities or federal agencies, such as the IRS.
Callers use high-pressure tactics to try to convince people they are behind on payments and in danger of getting in trouble if they don’t pay immediately, according to police assigned to the West Los Angeles Station.
Victims are told to buy reloadable prepaid credit cards in the amount due and to give the caller, or another person in league with the caller, the personal identification number needed to convert the information into cash.
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Locally, con artists have suggested they are calling on behalf of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, police said.
MoneyPak/Green Dot, the maker of reloadable prepaid credit cards, urges customers to keep receipts and never divulge the MoneyPak number to anyone.
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--City News Service
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