Scams draw warnings from authorities

Sierra Vistsa Herald ^ | Eric Petermann

[SandRat]

At 83, Wanda Mealy had her hands full accomplishing a move.

Before the efforts of a few strong volunteers, it had taken several weeks for her to move to a new address in Sierra Vista.

As part of the effort, Wanda went to the local post office to let the agency know she was living at a new address.

“I was told to go online and make the changes there,” she said.

What followed was frustration for the more than 50-year resident of Sierra Vista. Wanda clicked on a website that charged her $40 to send out notices that she had changed her address. Unfortunately, the postal service doesn’t charge for changing addresses and Wanda had paid an online company that didn’t follow through on issuing notice of her new location.

“I went to the postmaster, and he told me right away I had been scammed,” Mealy said. “I don’t know if that’s what you call it, but I want people to be careful before they get caught the same way.”

Sierra Vista Postmaster Janet Moriarty gave Mealy the agency’s “Mover’s Guide,” which provides exact instructions on how to accomplish a change of address. The correct online location for address changes is USPS.com/move, otherwise, Mealy said, make sure to pick up the published guide from the local post office.

Another scam was reported Monday by the Sheriff’s office.

The agency reported a man identifying himself as Joshua Davis called and said that he was with Intel Services.

Davis said he was calling on behalf of his client National Payday Loans and advised the caller that he had taken out a payday loan on Feb. 4, 2009, which was never paid back. Davis said there would be a felony warrant issued for check fraud, unless the person paid $620. Davis said if the money was not paid, all of the paperwork would be faxed to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and the victim would be arrested at his place of employment or at his home.

The victim advised Davis that he did not have that kind of money at this time and Davis said he would notate the account and fax the paperwork to the Sheriff's Office.

The victim said approximately 20 minutes later a second call was received from a man identifying himself as Sheriff Cooper from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and he had received a fax to issue a warrant for the arrest of the caller. Sheriff Cooper then told the caller to call Davis back and make arrangements to pay the $620.

The Sheriff's Office issued a warning after receiving the report, notifying people of the scam.

“We do not call to warn people that they will be arrested if they fail to pay money to a subject,” Sheriff Mark Dannels said. “If there is an actual civil case of non-payment of funds due, the courts will be involved and you will have to appear at the court in person.”

[SandRat]

Arizona

Cochise County

[Leaning Right]

As part of the effort, Wanda went to the local post office to let the agency know she was living at a new address. “I was told to go online and make the changes there,” she said.

That's the problem right there. In the old days the clerk would give you the necessary paper form, and help you fill it out.

[Mears]

My rule for years has been NEVER deal with anything that is from an incoming call.

Never.

[SandRat]

I tell them that solicitation or sales calls are only accepted at 1-888-731-1000.

That’s a Dial a prayer number.