Many of the scams being used on unsuspecting local residents have been used throughout the United States. However, from time to time we do get scams that are unique to the area.

If you receive a call from ANYONE in which you did not originate the call:

DO NOT give out personal, credit card or bank information to the caller.

If there is some question that this call could be from a company that you have a relationship with, tell the caller you are hanging up the phone and contacting the company directly. Look up the phone number yourself and place a separate call to that place of business. Do not rely on the caller to provide the phone number to you.

Check caller ID if you have it. However, the scammers in some instances are able to make it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate number.

Filing a Complaint

If the caller is stating to be from the IRS and is not, file a complaint. The IRS has made it clear that they will never initiate a payment discussion by telephoning a consumer without having written to them first. Contact the IRS through their website.

You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by clicking on the "Report Fraud" box. For more information from the IRS about this specific scam visit their website.

Additional Signs of Possible Scams:

• High-pressure tactics aimed at forcing a quick decision.
• Demands for "cash only" or special delivery/pick-up of your payment.
• Companies and charities with "copycat" names - e.g., Salvation League instead of Salvation Army.
• Delayed delivery of a product or a prize.
• No risk, high-yield investments.

Did you know?

The first thing to do if you have been victim to any scam in which you have sent money via Western Union, MoneyGram, or Green Dot is to IMMEDIATELY notify the company in which you sent the money. If the payment company is notified before the suspects have retrieved or withdrawn your money, the company may be able to either cancel the transaction or send a refund to you.

• Green Dot: use the phone number on the back of your MoneyPak card or via their website at:
• Money Gram: 1-800-926-9400
• Western Union: 1-800-448-1492

If you're suspicious, ask the company or charity to send written information before you make any commitments. And feel free to hang up if you don't feel comfortable.

Resources

If you feel you've been conned, call the police or the Better Business Bureau. Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Boulder County provides a Community Protection Division that is an excellent resource to file complaints and seek additional information.

You can also find additional information on scams through the Federal Trade Commission website.