The Storm Lake Police Department is reminding residents to remain vigilant as the number of people in the area who have fallen victim to scams is on the rise. According to officials, there are many ways criminals attempt to collect your personal information or money, and almost anybody can fall for their tactics. Scams can be financially devastating, and it is extremely challenging, if not impossible, for law enforcement to catch the perpetrators after the fact. One of the most common methods used by scammers is to pose as a person in a position of authority, such as a police officer, court official or government agent, and pressure people into paying invented fines or providing Social Security numbers and bank account information. Others have the scammer claiming to be from a utility company threatening disconnection if bills are not paid immediately, or an unsolicited caller will suggest you’ve won a prize but must pay a fee to access the funds. Regardless of the scam, authorities say there are common themes between all of them that are a good indication the caller is not being forthright. Calls can appear to come from legitimate agencies through a process known as spoofing, which fakes the number that appears on caller ID. Scammer generally request payment in nonconventional ways, such as store gift cards, money wires or mailed cash. When in doubt about the authenticity of a caller, hang up immediately and contact local police, family or friends before taking any action.
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