While telephone scams are nothing new, those behind the scams are becoming more creative in their methods. From direct phone calls to text messages, identity-theft scams are a daily occurrence.
“We are getting more complaints than we ever have, ” Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said. “It’s not just calls, it’s also text-messaging scams.”
Presley said not responding to the calls or texts is the best thing someone can do.
“Never give out your personal information over the phone or over a text message,” said Presley. “We say this until we are blue in the face but people are still doing it. People are losing their money for no reason. Use common sense — don’t give out your personal information.”
From banks to department stores, no business seems to be immune to the scams. Even President Barrack Obama’s name is being used to gather information in a false manner.
4-County Electric Power Association Spokesperson Brad Barr said the local power provider has received some calls regarding possible identity theft.
“Officials said there are variations of the scam, but all claim to have money from the federal government that will be used to pay electric cooperative members’ electric bills,” Barr said. There have been isolated reports of the scam in the 4-County service area. Members of electric cooperatives in south Mississippi have reported several contacts from the scam artists.”
In some cases, the victim is asked to provide credit card information to cover a processing fee to Paymentus, an automated payment service. Once the thief has that information, he is able to make charges on the account.
“We wanted to alert our members of this potential scam,” Joe Cade, 4-County CEO said. “We ask our members and the public to not give any personal or banking information over the phone to someone they don’t know. Also, our members and the public should not give out their Social Security numbers over the phone. We are never going to ask for this kind of information over the phone.”
Presley said to report telemarketing scams or possible identity theft, call his Nettleton office at 1-800-356-6428 or contact local law enforcement agencies.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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