East Bay Phone Scam Alert: 4 Tricks Cons Are Now Using

MORAGA - Police in Moraga say local residents should be on the alert for another wave of scam phone calls, as four particular scams have recently been reported to them.

Here's a list of the four Moraga police say you need to be wary of, and what you should do if called:

• IRS. The scammer calls and claims to be an IRS agent and tells you that you owe taxes and either that there is a lawsuit pending or they have a warrant for your arrest. Again, the IRS will communicate with you via official US Mail, not via threatening telephone calls. These people will threaten you with arrest, taking your house and other actions. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS! If you have questions, call the Moraga Police or the local IRS office.
• Job. Recently, a young adult answered an ad to act as an agent for a landlord. He was sent a check, told to cash it, keep 10% as a commission and send the rest to a person via MoneyGram. Needless to say, the check bounced and our victim was out over $1300. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. I don't know any landlords that use MoneyGram to forward rent monies and...why wouldn't they just do it themselves?
• The Government Owes You! I received a call on my police department cell phone from a Washington DC number. The woman on the other end said she was from the US Treasury Office and that they had an $8000 refund for me. She said I could come there and pick it up or simply provide her with my checking account information and they would instantly make a transfer. The problem with that is it would be a transfer from my account. She didn't quite know what to do when I told her I would come to Washington to collect my money and where should I go. Needless to say, if it sounds too good to be true -- it usually is.
• Grandson/granddaughter. This scam is back and occurs when a young male or female claims to be your relative and is stranded or has been arrested and needs money. They will trick you into telling them your relative's name and then convince you that you are talking to them. While we all have relatives and friends who get into difficult situations, do not be fooled. Call and verify that it is actually your relative. The Police Department can help you with this, if necessary. Don't keep it a secret from other relatives. I have shared my personal story before and had my wife's grandmother made one call to verify, she would not have lost over $8000.

According to Moraga police, other scams are also being used. One commonality, police say, is that they utilize MoneyGram or GreenDot cards to have you transfer money to strangers.

Police say this transfer demand should raise a red flag.

Moraga police also point out the callers use computer programs that spoof their actual telephone number.

For example, police say, they may be calling from 925-888-7055, but your caller ID when you receive the call says the call is from 202-555-1212.

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