LAPD Scam Alert

How the scam works:

These crimes are usually perpetrated via telephone. Scammers represent themselves as bill collectors for
utilities (predominantly DWP, but also as collectors for the IRS, citations, etc.) and request that the victim
purchase a pre-paid re-loadable debit card (Green Dot/Money Pak, but also Visa, MasterCard, Vanilla Card, etc.) for the specific amount of the bill charge and threaten that the victim’s utilities will be shut off immediately, or the citation will go to warrant, etc., if the victim does not do so. The victim is then instructed to call the scammer back with the PIN (account number) to that card. Once the scammer has the PIN, he is able to transfer the funds to any other credit card - essentially a convenient and untraceable method of transferring money. The victim is left no recourse.

Click here to view LAPD Alert flyer (PDF).