Adrian, MI- The Adrian Police Department is warning residents of several recent scams. The department released this information on social media:
• Ransomware: If your computer freezes and a pop-up tells you to contact “Microsoft” or any other computer company, DO NOT call that number. GO TO THE SOURCE or go to a local computer repair company. Suspects of ransomware or other scams will lock your computer and tell you they can fix it for a sum of money. The suspects may tell you to take money from your bank account and send it via Bitcoin or any other crypto exchange. This is a lie and a scam. Your money will be gone forever.
• Gift Card Scams: Suspects will call you or contact you via social media with a variety of reasons for you to give them gift cards. They will say they are a friend of your grandchild or a boss of the company you work for, or a friend of a friend who needs help. Sometimes they will disguise themselves as your grandchild or friend needing help. DO NOT respond to these messages and/or hang up the phone. GO TO THE SOURCE.
• Account Issues: If someone calls from a business stating, there are issues with your account and they need your personal information and/or bank account numbers or gift cards to secure your accounts. DO NOT give out your full name, address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, account numbers or credit card numbers! Give out nothing. GO TO THE SOURCE.
• Free Money: If you get a pop-up, a text message, an email or any other type of message stating you won $500.00 dollars or better yet, a million dollars. DO NOT respond to the messages. Delete and block the text, email or caller. 99.9% of the time this is a scam but if you think it is real, then GO TO THE SOURCE.
• Free Checks: If you get a random check in the mail for money. DO NOT cash the check. DO NOT call the number on the check. If someone sends you a check from overseas, guaranteeing money in return if you cash the check and send it to them via Bitcoin or any other crypto exchange, DO NOT believe them. This is a scam and you could get in trouble for cashing a bad check. You will not see any money.
• Any Social Media: Facebook scammers will re-create look alike accounts of you or your friends. They will use this fake account to become friends with you! If you know you are already friends with someone, this is a scam. DELETE the request and block. Further, if you get a Facebook Message from a friend asking for personal information or money. STOP, DO NOT give out your personal information over any type of social media. GO TO THE SOURCE and call your friend via their telephone number or go see them in person, to verify you are giving personal information to the right person!
• DO NOT give out your personal information over the phone or any type of social media without double checking you are talking to whom you should be talking to. ALWAYS GO TO THE SOURCE by either going to the business in person or calling a known number to the business.
• Most businesses will not ask you to pay them in gift cards to fix something or to secure an account. Hang up, stop texting, unplug your computer and GO TO THE SOURCE. • When in doubt, STOP what you are doing and GO TO THE SOURCE. Go to the business in person, call a known business number you are familiar with, call the friend or stop by to see them to verify.
The letter was drafted by the Adrian Police Department – Detective Bureau. If you suspect a scam and are not sure, please contact Detective K. Putnam at 517.264.4819
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