Fraud alert issued

Special to the Floridan
Published: April 30, 2008

Washington County authorities released the following fraud alert Wednesday morning:
Many Florida residents are receiving a call from a con artist attempting to get their checking account numbers. The individual claims to be working with all of our area banks to change all checking account numbers nationwide. When asked which banks, he names banks in our area. This is not true.

There is not a nationwide account number change taking place. When asked why the banks do not contact their own customers, the person claims he is doing this for the banks because the job is too much for them, and that all he is asking for is the customer’s basic account information and account number.

He then reminds the person on the phone that they give their checking account number out every time they write a check.
According to Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock, the best way to avoid becoming a victim of a telemarketing fraud is to hang up; if you don’t talk to them you can’t give them too much information. And, when you try to reason with them or out-smart them you are simply inviting trouble. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a telemarketing scam:
– Never talk to strangers on the phone.
– Never, under any circumstances give out all or a portion of your credit card, bank account or Social Security numbers to a caller.
– Use an answering machine or Caller ID. Remember a legitimate business will not block their number.
– Register with the National Do Not Call list by going to http://www.donotcall.gov or call 1.888.382.1222.
– Register on Florida’s Do Not Call list by calling 1.800.435.7352.
For assistance call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line:850.638.8477. CASE is a Partnership of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the community to prevent elder financial exploit