SCAMS

Electric Power Worker Scam - Alert issued by Sherri Bevan Walsh, Prosecuting Attorney, County of Summit Alert regarding scammers claiming to be American Electric Power (AEP) employees in order to get into individual's homes. AEP employees always call customers to schedule a time if they need to enter the home. Additionally, all SEP employees wear company-issued clothing with the AEP logo. For complete alert click here. pdf
Secret Shopper Scam Beware of phony mailing regarding a job to be a secret shopper. They send a phony check to you to deposit into your bank account. Then you are to wire a portion of the funds back to them. Then the check ends up not good and you are out of the money! Click here to see the actual mailing pdf
Consumer Alert From: The Office of Consumer Affairs Beware of Calls Offering Prizes They may be selling multiple magazine subscriptions. To read more about the scam click here pdf
Snowplow Scam   Residents should be aware that there is a scam going around our area involving an alleged snowplow company in which a letter offering a snowplowing contract is being stuffed into mailboxes.  The "contractor" requests that half of the seasonal fees be paid up front and that the remainder be paid by January 15th.  The contract is then signed and returned with the payment.  Reportedly the company never plows the contracted person's property.  This is not a new scam and it is believed that some victims have already tried to prosecute the responsible parties but were unsuccessful.  It is NVPD's understanding that the courts have ruled this to be a civil matter due to a contractual agreement being signed between the parties.  Residents should be advised that all legitimate contractors are required to register with Northfield Village and obtain the necessary annual plow permit.
Health Insurance Scam: A health insurance salesman makes a pitch that his company's private Medicare plan can meet their needs as well as their current plan, only much more cheaply. Unfortunately, people are finding that this plan is not accepted by doctors. Not only that, but it can take months to switch back to their original health insurance plan. Residents who find themselves in this situation should contact their Regional Medicare office.

Foreclosure-Rescue Scam:
Many people on the verge of losing their home may receive letters from so-called foreclosure-rescue groups who promise assistance to the homeowners. To some, these groups seem like their only hope. However, these groups are offering a scheme to take control of the house and strip any equity left in it. Take caution if you receive a letter in the mail from any of these groups, as they are trying to take control of your property, leaving you without any equity.

Credit Card Scam:

The Akron Police Department is reporting a credit card scam where
con artists are pretending to be fraud investigators with either VISA or MASTERCARD.

The SCAM: The victim receives a call from the supposed investigator stating that someone has gained access to their account and asks for the three-digit PIN number on the back of the person's credit card. They claim to need this information so they can start an investigation. The problem is VISA and MASTERCARD maintain a record of the PIN numbers of their credit card holders, therefore, there would be no reason for an investigator to ask fo a person's PIN number.

The SOLUTION: If you receive any calls regarding your credit cards, hang up and call the number on the back of your credit card and ask them is they just called. If the credit card company did not call, please notify your local police agency.

I've been robbed! Can I use your phone? SCAM:

The Beacon Journal recently reported on a new technique criminals are using to gain access to your home. Once again criminals are using our natural instinct to help a person in need. While it is hard to resist the urge to help someone in need our best advice is to keep your doors closed & locked. If you open the door make sure the screen door is locked and inform the person that you will call 9-1-1 and then close your door. Please feel free to call the Police Department if you need any additional advice or help.

Are you on the "Elderly Opportunity Seekers" list?

When you enter sweepstakes either through the mail or on the phone, your personal information could be entered into a database which is sold to criminals seeking to drain your bank accounts. These criminals can even obtain lists of "Suffering Seniors", senior citizens with debilitating problems. Here is how this scam works. A very friendly person will call to enter you into a sweepstakes or offer to help you in other ways. Some will even say they are government workers or from the Social Security Administration. The conversation starts out friendly enough but by the end of the conversation they have obtained your bank account number.

Don't be fooled by these criminals. If you have caller I.D., don't answer your phone unless you know who is calling you. If you receive an email from someone you do not know, delete it without opening it. If you receive an unexpected visitor at your door, don't open the door.

Preying On The Elderly:

The Akron Police Department is investigating three separate incidents over the last couple of weeks involving a male posing as a FBI agent and scamming elderly victims out of thousands of dollars. In these cases, the victims are receiving telephone calls from a male posing as a FBI agent. He is telling the elderly victims that he is either investigating them personally or investigating a con artist involved in a sweepstakes or lottery. The caller then recruits the victims to catch the suspect. The victims are then ordered to withdraw money from their bank and wire it to the suspect. On a couple of occasions, the caller has even provided a cab ride to assist in transporting the elderly victim to the bank and then to a location to wire the money.

The police department warns citizens "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!"

Several tips to avoid being a victim of a scam:

1. Never give personal information over the phone.

2. Never send money to anyone you don't know.

3. Always double check with your bank or local law enforcement agency before acting on request to send money to anyone.

If you have an elderly releative or friend, please alert them to this scam. If you have any information about these cases or similar cases, please contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.