Oak Ridge Today

Learn to outsmart scammers on Wednesday

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Oak Ridge Public Library Scam Safety Seminar Aug 21 2019

The Oak Ridge Public Library will host a lunch and learn program next week called “You Have the Power to Outsmart the Scammers” as part of World Wise Wednesdays. The presentation is scheduled for August 21 from noon until 1 p.m.

The discussion will focus on incidents of fraud and some of the complex tactics used by scammers, a press release said. A local financial adviser will lead the presentation and outline steps everyone can take to protect themselves and their loved ones from fraudulent activity, the release said.

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Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warns of scam

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The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a new scam where someone is misrepresenting themselves as an Anderson County Sheriff’s deputy. Calls have been made from “Deputy James Marshall” from telephone number (865) 909-7996, and this person is asking that prepaid cards be obtained to pay for fines or take care of arrest warrants, a press release said.

“Please be aware law enforcement agencies, court clerk’s offices, or other government organizations do not make calls such as this and ask for debit or prepaid card numbers,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in the press release.

If Anderson County residents receive such calls, they should notify the Sheriff’s Department at (865) 457-2414 or their local police department.

After text message scam, consumers receiving fraudulent phone calls, credit union says

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First, consumers received text messages falsely claiming to be from Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union. It was a scam designed to get personal information.

Now, they are receiving phone calls and additional text messages, the credit union said in an update posted on its website on Tuesday.

“Consumers are now receiving phone calls informing them of past due payments,” the credit union said. “They are given a number to call back and asked to give personal information. These calls are not from the credit union. Please do not give out personal sensitive information!”

On Monday, the credit union said members and non-members received text messages resembling the ones from this past weekend, but asking recipients to click a link instead of calling a phone number. [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department warns of text message scam

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scam-alert

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department warned on Monday that cell phone users across the area are receiving text messages claiming to be alerts from Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union.

“These messages are not from the credit union, and the credit union says they will not contact consumers in this manner and ask for personal information,” the Sheriff’s Department said.

If you have called the number in the message and given them any information, you are urged to call the credit union at (800) 554-8969 to close your debit card and order a new one.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Sheriff’s Department warns of scam alert

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Scam Alert

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has once again received reports of someone calling residents in Anderson County threatening arrest for failing to appear in court.

These scam artists are identifying themselves as members of the Sheriff’s Department and telling the people called that they need to obtain a prepaid debit card and give the callers the card number.

This is the same scam as reported in the past, a press release said. Please be aware law enforcement agencies or court clerk’s offices do not make calls such as these!

If you have been the victim of this scam, please contact the Sheriff’s Communications Center at (865) 457-2414, or your local police department.

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Report: Scammers extorting money after claiming missed jury duty

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Oak Ridge officials say unknown suspects have been contacting residents claiming to be representatives of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and claiming to be contacting people who failed to show up for jury duty. The suspects have allegedly extorted money from victims in return for supposedly excusing them from jury duty, a press release said.

The press release said that anyone who is asked to pay money in return for being excused from jury duty should contact their local law enforcement agency immediately. Oak Ridge citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to (865) 425-4399, or dial 911 if it is an emergency.

Warning: Fire system scam leads to costly cleanup, temporary closure

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The cleanup will be costly for a local restaurant and its sister restaurant in Knoxville after they were hit by an overnight scam related to their fire alarm and fire suppression system, authorities said.

Here’s how the scam worked, according to Oak Ridge Deputy Fire Chief Josh Waldo: “An individual called both of the restaurants and indicated that there was a gas leak in the building and instructed the workers to activate their commercial fire suppression system and their fire alarm system and then break out a window for ventilation. This is a scam that has been pulled off before in town and in other jurisdictions as well.”

A press release from the City of Oak Ridge there was no problem at either restaurant, but the activation of the suppression system and ensuing cleanup will be costly for both businesses as they will be closed until repairs are made. [Read more…]

Anderson County sheriff warns of jury duty fraud scam

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Paul White

Paul White

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public about a phone scam involving a claim of missed jury duty and a request to buy a money order to pay fines.

In a Thursday night press release, the Sheriff’s Department said it has received a report of a man who placed a phone call to a victim and identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy. The scammer informed the victim they have missed jury duty, and he asked them to buy a money order to pay the fines. He then asked the victim to meet him to pay and avoid going to jail. This scam has apparently been attempted in Anderson County and in the Clinton area.

The caller ID of the scammer shows “Warrants Division,” but that is fake and this is a scam, Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said in the press release.

“This is the same scam that has been circulating this week in Knox County,” he said. “There are several variations of scams targeting our area. The callers are claiming to be officers with various law enforcement agencies and are collecting funds for missed jury duty or outstanding warrants. In most of the scams, the caller request that funds be paid by purchasing either a prepaid credit card or money order.” [Read more…]

Red light camera ‘scam’ actually an ORAU training exercise

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Note: This story was last updated at 9:25 a.m. Nov. 19.

The red light camera scam that authorities warned about on Monday evening was actually a training exercise intended to only be used internally at Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The e-mails were created as part of ORAU’s cybersecurity training, and they were meant to help educate employees about so-called “phishing” scams.

The e-mails told recipients they had been captured on camera running a red light and had to pay a $50 fine. They instructed recipients to pay a fine through a PayPal link and warned them they could be subject to an extra $95 fee if they failed to do so. [Read more…]

Utility scam warning for businesses

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WYSH Radio in Clinton had a scam warning on Monday for businesses who are also customers of Clinton Utilities Board.

Earlier this month, a CUB official notified the Clinton Police Department that three businesses had contacted the utility reporting that they had received phone calls from two different numbers in which the caller told them that they were with the “CUB Disconnect Office” and that they were behind on their bills. In each case, the caller told the business that their service would be disconnected if payment was not made immediately and then provided instructions on how to wire the money through a money service from Walmart or Kmart. [Read more…]