By Shannon Lukens.
Be aware of scams targeting local residents, in many different forms.
“Peter McKenzie, the CEO Manager here at the Publishers Clearance House. Is this the first time getting a call to be notified about your winnings?”
This was a call we received where the caller persisted with a couple of strategies.
“Where are you calling from, Peter?”
“I’m calling from New York Jamaica.”
“New York, Jamaica?”
“Right. Would you be interested today to pay your taxes online.”
Don’t ever think that you can pay your taxes online.
Lane Iacovetto with the Routt County Treasurer’s Office says Routt County property owners are getting a text message that says their property will be sold for unpaid property taxes and it tells you to call a phone number to pay off the taxes. That’s also a scam.
“Well it sounds scary, too. They’re saying that your property is going to be sold at public auction so I can see how people would fall for it. Keep your money and don’t fall for the fraud.”
Property Tax in Routt County is only collected by the Routt County Treasurer’s office.
Iacovetto says do not pay a third-party collector, and to call the Treasurer’s Office if you have any questions. Contact: 970-870-5555, or email Treasurer@co.routt.co.us.
Yampa Valley Bank put out a warning about a fraud alert of scam calls from someone pretending to be with the Wells Fargo Fraud Department. The phone call says it is actually from Wells Fargo but it isn’t. The scammer tries to get you to log in to Zelle and then send payments somewhere.
Becca Knowles is Senior Vice President and Senior Operations Officer with Yampa Valley Bank. She says the scammers use scare tactics to try to intimidate you to think someone is stealing your money or you’re going to be taken to court if you don’t pay the money.
“If I could give one piece of advice, just hang up when you get a phone call like that and call your bank directly and work through your account and make sure everything is OK.”
Knowles also says to be skeptical of emails where someone sends an invoice that you’re used to paying via wire transfer or through your bank, and they say their account has changed and you need to send the money somewhere new. Knowles says to assume that it is fraud and make sure you check.
“Every day, we probably see five to ten fraud attempts made to our customers whether it’s via their debit card, or wire request, or going to buy gift cards to send off to somebody. And those things are rarely legit.”
Here’s her explanation of how it works.
Another local business owner posted that a company from Arizona is calling local businesses selling full page ads in a supposed “Golf Guide” claiming to represent Steamboat Golf Club. Another scam from a 480 area code.
Reach out to your local police department if you think you are being scammed or you have been a victim of something fraudulent.
Other scams:
- July 25, 2024 — Scam Alert for those sad posts of injured pets and lost kids
- Oct. 11, 2023 — Strong Tower group asked to leave Walmart in Craig
- Sept. 12, 2023 — SCAM tries to get you to order something to support “autistic son”
- Jan. 31, 2023 — Identity Theft Awareness Week
- May 24, 2024 — “Stand for the Silent” group asking for money is questioned by Steamboat Springs Police
- Sept. 12, 2021 — SSHS and MCHS football fans are being targeted with a scam