Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - The Boulder City Police Department (BCPD) is warning residents to be on guard after a local resident was scammed out of more than $6,000 from their bank account.
In that case, someone claiming to be from a bank's fraud department called a resident and obtained login information, then transferred more than $6,000 from the victim’s account to a different account.
“The victim said the phone number matched the bank's customer service phone number, so it seemed valid,” said Boulder City Police Chief Tim Shea. “These con artists use spoofing technology to make a call appear to be from a legitimate source. The victim said the bank couldn't stop the fraudulent wire transfer, leaving the victim with little recourse.”
Other scams commonly reported include calls from a “utility company” claiming it will shut off power without immediate payment, as well as claiming to be police threatening an arrest if they don’t buy gift cards to pay bail. Neither the Boulder City Utilities Department nor the Police Department call residents and request bank account information or gift cards for payment.
These are not new scams, but they're making rounds in Boulder City again.
These scammers often prey on the elderly. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has up-to-date information on the latest rip-offs at www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/.
If you receive a call asking for money, do not provide any personal information. “Hang up on the caller immediately, as these thieves will try to keep you on the phone in an effort to convince you to get gift cards,” said Chief Shea. “You can report it using the Boulder City Police Department online reporting form.”