scam "robo-calls" plague northeastern Pennsylvania area

This story is from the Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Edition of the Press Enterprise

Bold con artists keep calling

By CHRIS KREPICH

Press Enterprise Writer

DANVILLE – Phone scammers targeted residents in Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties in recent days, and they apparently aren't afraid of the police.

Danville Chief Eric Gill said his department received numerous complaints about three phone scams Sunday and Monday in the Danville area. When he called a number for one of the apparent scammers, the woman who answered cursed at him.

One scam with a recorded message mentioned a problem for customers of "First Keystone National Bank," he said.

The second told people their ATM cards had been accessed by "some other person" and their account had been suspended. That caller asks residents to press a number to be transferred to a security department to reactivate the account.

In a third scam, callers say they are from the IRS and ask that funds be wired to settle a debt, said Gill.

At no time should anyone give out account numbers or other personal information, he said.

Banks or the IRS don't do business in that manner over the phone, noted the chief.

And if people suspect there could be a problem with their account, Gill says they should visit their bank in person.


'Planting a hex'

Gill said one resident got several calls from someone in Jamaica claiming to represent the IRS.

When Gill called the number, a woman named Shelly Ann who spoke broken English said, "F--- you Danville Borough," and hung up.

The woman, who got the name from Caller ID, then called twice and swore at the police clerk, Gill said.

The woman called back a third time and told Gill she was, "Planting a hex on you today," he said.

"That's a first in 24 years," the chief said.


'Just hang up'

Mahoning Township Chief Dave Shope said his department took at least a dozen phone calls about the scam.

He assured residents they will be fine as long as they do not give out any information.

"Just hang up," Shope said.

If anyone calls on behalf of a bank, the best thing to do is call the bank back at the number listed in the phone book. Do not use any number a caller gives you, he said.

"You know your bank. Call them," Shope said.

Riverside Chief Ike Ramer said he received eight complaints about scam calls, most made Sunday.

He said the callers were using the names of FNB and M&T banks.

Mayor Ed Coleman said he received a phony call about his ATM card. When he called the number that showed up on his phone, a message said that number was not in service.

The Press Enterprise's Danville office also received a call about a problem with an ATM card.

Callers also targeted residents in the Bloomsburg area on Sunday.

Previous scam calls seemed to center on Berwick-area numbers.

Chris Krepich covers the Danville area. He can be reached at 275-2104 or [email protected].