Palatine Resident Told To Empty Bank Account In Recent Phone Scam

PALATINE, IL — The Palatine Police Department is urging residents to be extremely careful after a the department recently took a report from a victim who was scammed by theft of deception, according to a news release from police. Police said the resident victim was called by someone claiming to be from the Social Security Office, who told the resident their social security number had been stolen and transferred them to a "police investigator." According to police, the person pretending to be a "police investigator" instructed the victim to empty his bank accounts and begin purchasing gift cards because "his accounts were about to be frozen."

Spoofed phone numbers were used to call the victim, and one of those numbers used was 847-359-9000 (the Palatine Police Department’s non-emergency line), according to police, who added that “Spoofing” entails a scammer making any name or number show up on your caller ID, tricking you into thinking it may be a legitimate call.

The Palatine Police Department reminds residents to be careful as you can no longer trust your caller ID.

>> More information on spoofing