Scams popping up in Oxford

OXFORD —  Lieutenant Michael Ward says scams have been occurring frequently and people should be mindful about avoiding them. 

While scams occur year-round, people should be even more aware of them during the holiday season, especially when shopping online, says Ward. 

"It's important to pay attention to detail, especially when making any kind of deal over the Internet," he says. 

According to Ward, a seller on Craigslist was advertising "holiday-related" items and a customer interested in the items sent a check to the seller that was "no good." 

"Always make sure the check is good before you send your belongings away," Ward says. "Don't just assume the person on the other end ... is not there to take your money." 

He said the items in question are valued at $2,500. 

"They are targeting everybody, not just senior citizens," said Ward. 

Aside from Internet scams, Ward warns about the FBI telephone scam. 

He said a "representative" from the FBI calls, claiming they represent the fraud division and ask you to give them personal information, Ward explains. 

"They [FBI] call up and say there is some fraud with your bank account related to criminal activity and that they need to confirm the information on your bank account," he said. 

"They are very intimidating ... the FBI has no part [in this]. They would not do that," he adds. "They would come knock on your door.

"If anybody calls saying they are from the FBI, it's not true." 

Ward says another scam involves scammers mailing out a check along with a letter instructing people to deposit the money into their personal bank account. 

Recently, one check in particular came from TVC Marketing from Oklahoma City, says Ward. 

"It's totally a scam," he explains. "I called the bank down in Oklahoma City and they said that someone has been doing this [scam] nationwide." 

He says some of the most prevalent scams involve sweepstakes and mostly target senior citizens. 

"People will get a letter with a $2,000 to $3,000 check saying they won a sweepstakes," Ward says.

"We [Oxford Police] even get checks for $400,000 and people think they have won the lottery and that they have to pay the fees to collect the money," he says. 

Legitimate sweepstakes would never ask you to pay fees to participate or to receive a prize, he explains.  

Another scam Ward hasn't dealt with in a while, but people should pay particular attention to is the "grandparent or family scam." 

"They [scammers] call up a senior citizen claiming to be a young relative who has been in an accident or arrested in another country and they need the money," Ward explains. 

He said one local woman lost $2,500 in this type of scam, thinking that her "relative" needed bail money, when really the scammer was just trying to get the woman to wire money to a specific location. 

"It's time for the public to really be aware of what's going on, especially when doing Internet transactions," Ward says. 

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Ward encourages people to call the Oxford Police Department at 539-4414 if they witness anything suspicious.