Missouri Capitol Police Warns
Citizens about Telephone Scams
JEFFERSON CITY, October 12, 2005-Missouri Capitol Police,
a division of the Department of Public Safety, today reported a scam
artist has contacted a state employee over the telephone. Capitol
Police warns other state workers and citizens to beware of callers
asking for personal information or payment.
“You have the right to demand credibility from
anyone who calls asking for your private information or informing
you of a prize or sum you have won,” Capitol Police Chief Todd
Hurt said. “Just give us a call if you are suspicious about
the intentions of a caller requesting information or money from you.
If you are truly entitled to a prize or required to give personal
information, the respected caller should be very patient and understanding
of your right to protect yourself.”
According to Capitol Police, a state employee was called
this morning from someone identified as being with Grant Services
Inc. The caller told the employee that she had been selected for a
$6,000 grant, to spend however she chooses, because she is a Missouri
State employee who earns less than $40,000 annually. The caller said
that the employee would need to pay a $298.00 up-front fee for the
grant. When the employee became suspicious and asked questions of
the organization the caller claimed to represent, the caller became
frustrated and hung up.
Capitol Police believes the call was made as a scam
to get $298 or personal information from the employee for identity
theft. Many scams involve advance fee transfers, which require the
scammed person to send a sum of money in order to get a much larger
sum of money in return.
“Remember if a deal sounds too good to be true
it probably is,” Hurt said. “Always be wary of giving
your personal information to anyone you do not know.”
For more information, please contact Terri Durdaller
at (573) 751-4819.