OXFORD – Police are warning people about a phone scam targeting this area that tries to persuade people to let their guard down and give their checking account numbers.
Lt. Jon Tibbetts said two people on Pleasant Street in Oxford received suspicious calls recently, one from a Starr Communications based in Canoga Park, Calif., and the other from a man called James Ferrell, who said he was from the made-up town of Centerville, Maine.
These types of phone fraud are fairly common, and often the crooks target elderly people. Police warn that people should never give away financial information to strangers.
Tibbetts said Starr Communications made a big promise of cash, but said winners need to pay $4.95 in shipping and handling costs to receive the prize. The caller then asked for the recipient’s checking account numbers to withdraw the money.
Linda Hooker of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office said she has received identical reports of the same fraud.
Tibbetts said Ferrell told the person he called that he was investigating fraud and that he wanted to make sure the person’s checking account had not been violated. He then asked the person to state the account number, which he said was in front of him, so he could confirm it.
Tibbetts said he called Starr Communications, but the supervisor denied making the call. He had no contact information for Ferrell.
He said these types of thieves can easily find people’s names, numbers and other personal information on the Internet.
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