TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Willcox Department of Public Safety is warning of a phone scam circulating in the area—it’s something that can happen any time of the year, but authorities warn that internet and phone scams are especially prevalent during the holiday season.
According to a report from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, a scammer used a tactic known as “spoofing” to get a “large amount of money” from a local woman.
This particular scam began with an initial call telling the woman she had “pending charges” for illegal activities related to money laundering and drugs, and that the woman needed to “secure her funds” to prove otherwise.
She was told that local law enforcement would follow up with her—that’s when the spoofing technology came in. The report says a second individual then called her, using the same phone number as the Willcox Police Department, which made the call appear legitimate.
The woman’s money was stolen after she was then sent bar codes and given instructions to scan them at a nearby Wal-mart. She was told that process would “verify” her money, but instead resulted in a transfer of her funds to the scammer, Willcox police say.
“Please remember, scammer[s] are active and are trying to get your money,” Willcox Police Chief Dale Hadfield said. “Don’t allow yourself to become a victim. This is a multibillion-dollar, multi-country criminal enterprise and as long as they keep victimizing citizens, they will not stop.”
Hadfield reiterated one of…
