Scam Alert

We have another variation on the scam theme! This time a victim was called and told that her Apple ID had been compromised. The telephone number that the scammer called from was spoofed to show a real number that is used by Apple Tech Support.

The victim was then sent an email with a link to click on. Once the victim clicked on this link, the scammer had complete access to their computer. The scammer told the victim that her bank and credit card accounts had also been compromised along with the victim's mother's account.

The victim was told that 72 hackers from Russia were compromising the accounts and the only way to secure the accounts was to pay in various gift cards. The scammer told the victim that after she gave the number for the gift cards, her accounts would be secured and any IPs that were tracking her would be blocked. She was also told that any money given would be refunded to her after the accounts were secured.

This was not the case and the victim is now out tens of thousands of dollars! Please share this message with family and friends! We do not want to see anyone else give money to these scammers! If you get a call like this and are unsure if it is legitimate, hang up and call us to check on it for you!

A red flag is always the payment with gift cards!

Scam Alert

A couple of our citizens brought to our attention another telephone scam that is going around. They received a telephone call with a recorded message from "Dominion Energy" saying that their electricity was going to be turned off in 30 minutes. The message further stated that they needed to call another number to rectify the situation.

The number you then call identifies the company as "Dominion Energy" and gives you automated call options. One of these options is bill pay. This connects you with a scammer who verifies personal information such as address and telephone number. He pulls up your account and says that you failed to pay a $500.00 deposit that must have slipped through.

To rectify the issue, the scammer tells you to drive to a call center or go to a CVS to get a MoneyPak. He informs you that the MoneyPak allows for same-day payment. The scammer then directs you to call another number to give him the receipt number of the MoneyPak so he can stop the technician from disconnecting your power.

This scammer is using just enough legitimate information to make the calls sound convincing but please do not send him any money! One number the scam call is coming from is 1-800-251-7234 but may come from other numbers. Please share this information with your friends and family!

Police Release Scam Warning

We have seen an increase in citizens receiving calls from scammers. The caller states they are Lt. Cook from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and tells them they have a warrant for their arrest. The scammer then tells them to purchase ‬gift cards or Green Dot Cards to pay the fine or they will be arrested. Please do not send these scammers any money! Law enforcement will not ask for gift cards as payment for fines. ‬

Please be mindful that this scam has many variations! Tax season is coming so scammers may pose as IRS Agents asking for payment of back taxes. The IRS does not operate in that manner. To learn more about IRS scams, please visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts.

Scam Alert

There is a scammer calling citizens from 843-972-5450 saying he is Detective Harris with the Mount Pleasant Police Department. He advises that he has a case file on you and to avoid arrest you should send him a money order. Please do not send him any money! We do not take payment via money order over the telephone.

SCAM Alert

 

 

We have received several calls about a scam that is making its way through our community. Someone is calling citizens stating they are either Officer Jackson or Sergeant Jackson. The caller is informing citizens that they missed jury duty and need to pay a $1000.00 fine. Citizens are instructed to get the money on a Green Dot Card and to then call him back with the number assigned to that card.

 

Please do not send any money to this person as this is a scam! If you have received a telephone call like this AND have sent him money or the Green Dot card number, please call us at 843-743-7200 to file a report. You do not need to call us if you only received this call and did not send any money. 

Scam Alert

A scammer is calling guests that are staying in a hotel posing as the General Manager and requesting credit card information. Sometimes the caller tells guests that they forgot to put a credit card on file with the front desk and then offers to take the information over the telephone.

Please do not give your credit card over the telephone if you receive a call like this. Check with the front desk in person so that scammers do not steal your information.

Craigslist Scam

There is a scam going around Craigslist that you need to be aware of. A citizen was selling an item and was contacted by a buyer to purchase it. The buyer (scammer) sent the seller a cashier's check for well above the seller's price.

The check was deposited into the seller's account but the scammer advised that they no longer wanted the item. The seller they sent a money gram back to the scammer for the original amount. The original cashier's check sent by the scammer was then found to be no good meaning the seller was now out of the money. Be mindful of this when conducting business online.

As a reminder, we have an internet purchase safe zone in front of our police department that is covered by cameras if you need a place to conduct your transaction(s).



IRS Scam Alert

Seniors in our area are getting telephone calls from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. Please remember that the IRS will not threaten to arrest you nor do they take payments over the telephone. Do not fall for this scam!

Scam Warning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our citizens was scammed when a subject called posing as an agent with the IRS. He told the victim that she would be arrested if she did not wire him $5,000. The suspect called back and demanded she wire him $10,000 more. 

The IRS wil NOT call and ask you to wire money to them nor will they threaten to arrest you. Please do not fall for this scam!

Scam Alert

 

 

 

 

 

One of our residents received a call yesterday and was told she had won 2.5 million dollars and a Mercedes-Benz from Publishers Clearing House. The caller said that all she had to do was send him a check for $8,900.00 through the Post Office to receive her prizes. This was recognized as a scam and no money was sent to the suspect. Do not fall for this scam! The Internet Crime Complaint Center offers these warning signs to a possible scam:

 

 

• If the lottery winnings appear too good to be true, they probably are.
• Be cautious when dealing with individuals outside of your own country.
• Be leery if you do not remember entering a lottery or contest.
• Be cautious if you receive a telephone call stating you are the winner in a lottery.
• Beware of lotteries that charge a fee prior to delivery of your prize.
• Be wary of demands to send additional money to be eligible for future winnings.

 

Scam Alert

On June 29, 2015 one of our citizens received a telephone call from 202-559-6609 stating that they were from the IRS. The caller identified herself as "Officer Kim Brown" from the legal department and told the victim that there was a lawsuit against her. One of our officers called the number back and was met with hostility when she identified herself.

Please remember that the Internal Revenue Service will not call you to request money, threaten you with a lawsuit or threaten to arrest you.

SCAM Alert

 

 

A man claiming to be Steve Martin is calling citizens claiming to be with the IRS. He threatens people with a lawsuit if they ignore his calls. The number he calls from is 334-610-1137. Please do not fall for any scam he trys to push on you. The IRS will not call and threaten to bring a lawsuit or to place you under arrest.

Scam Alert

Phone scams are still an issue and we need your help to spread the word! If you are called and asked to send several thousand dollars to anyone in return for the release of millions of dollars to you, it is a SCAM. Please do not send any money to these individuals! In our latest scam the victim was also given a phony telephone number to Homeland Security to verify. This number was set up by the scammer in an attempt to get the victim to let their guard down.

If you receive a telephone call like this, please let us know so that we can investigate it BEFORE you send any money.

 



Telephone Scam Warning

The Mount Pleasant Police Department has received several reports of a telephone scam that attempts to get victims to send them money so they will not be arrested. The subject is calling residents and portraying himself as a lieutenant with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. He then threatens to arrest the victim, or their spouse, for an outstanding bench warrant due to missing jury duty. Victims are directed to purchase Green Dot money cards and then give the card numbers to the subject so that the fine can be cleared. Residents are asked to call Consolidated Dispatch at 843-743-7200 to report any telephone calls like this and are urged to not give any money to these scammers. If residents have any questions as to the legitimacy of any telephone call they receive, they can call the number above and an officer will investigate the matter for them.  

Scammers Posing as IRS Agents

Scammers are still calling residents posing as an agent from the Internal Revenue Service requesting money on a delinquent tax debt. They are threatening to sign out arrest warrants on citizens if they do not make a payment on this supposed debt. This is a ruse so do not give any money to these callers. The IRS will contact you in writing first about any unpaid taxes and will not threaten to issue an arrest warrant if you do not pay. If you receive a call like this, call 843-743-2300 to file a report.