PLANO (KRLD) - Plano police warn a sophisticated phone scam is going around, tricking people out of thousands of dollars.
Beware of a sophisticated phone scam going around. This can be represented by any organization or company. NEVER pay one of these debts using a gift card, reloadable cash card, or by wiring money. #ScamAlert https://t.co/RjJZeuMvmI
— Plano Police (Texas) (@PlanoPoliceDept)
February 28, 2020 To show people just how convincing these scams can be, a Plano police officer recorded a 12-minute conversation with one of the scammers. Using false information, he spoke with the scammer about a fake account, job, and even home life. At the end of the recording, the scammer tells the officer to purchase several hundred dollars in gift cards.
"If someone asks you to pay a debt using a gift card ... immediately become suspicious," said Officer David Tilley, with the Plano police. "Because it's most likely going to be a scam."
Tilley says the officer recorded the conversation to help familiarize people with these types of phone scams. He says knowing how they work can help people from falling victim.
