Village Police Warn of Scam Attempts

As of Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A recent scam attempt that cost one Pinehurst couple nearly $4,000 has police officers warning residents to beware.

In the last week, police say they have received reports of three different attempted scams. One of those involved a family that was scammed out of $3,800 when they wired money to an individual after they were told their grandson was jailed in Spain.

Police say the couple twice wired $1,900 to someone who promised to get their grandson released.

Only after the scammer called a third time demanding more money did the victims realize their error and contact their family to check on the welfare of their grandson.

“They found out that their grandson had not gone to Spain and had been in the United States all along,” said Capt. Floyd Thomas of the Pinehurst Police Department.

Another woman nearly got swindled out of money and merchandise after posting a for-sale advertisement on a popular website.

Thomas said the woman was selling a bike for $450 through Craigslist. The woman was contacted by a potential buyer who agreed to buy the bike and send her a check for the item. When the check arrived, it was for $2,450.

Thinking there was an error, the woman called the potential buyer and was told to cash the check, keep the $450 and send the excess money and bike.

The woman became suspicious, police said, when she noticed that the address of the company and the address of where to send the money and bike were different.

She didn’t cash the check and called the police.

“If it looks too good to be true’ it probably is,” Thomas said.

A third attempted scam was reported by a woman who police said received a phone call from someone who told her that there was a problem with her credit card account. Police say the woman hung up on the caller only to have him call back minutes later. During the second phone call, the woman threatened to call the police, and the caller hung up.

Officers advise residents to contact the police department at (910) 295-3141 if they receive any suspiciouscalls, emails or regular mail.

Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.

More like this story

MarkinMiami 1 year, 3 months ago

looks like Obama's constituents are trying to raise some campaign funding.

native 1 year, 3 months ago

that is uncalled for

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 3 months ago

People are just unbelievable!

ladylane 1 year, 3 months ago

You know the comment about the President was not called for the problem with the people is Dr. Martin Luther Kings came to pass A BLACK MAN is in the white house get over it it happened. GODS word the last shall be first and the first shall be last blacks have been last all along. WOW. :)

Courseaire 1 year, 3 months ago

ladylane - I'm just curious, but how did you come to the conclusion that MarkinMiami's comment was racist?

JER 1 year, 3 months ago

Again, the irony of a wingnut talking about raising campaign money when a guy like Romney just spent a record amount of money to buy his victory in Florida, the place where MarkinMiami lives. I don't think he's anymore racist than any other wingnut. He really is terrified that his candidate can't win in November and is just throwing stuff against the wall in hopes something will stick. At this point, all the Obama campaign has to do is re-run the same ads that the two candidates for the Republican nomination have been running in Florida. Obama doesn't have to do any spending, it's all been done for him already by Gingrich and Romney, who have waged the most expensive, despicable and personal negative campaign ever seen in Florida or any other state.

Nezumi 1 year, 3 months ago

Literally a Spanish Prisoner scam

justmyopinion 1 year, 3 months ago

MarkinMiami- Good one Mark !!

mcg2010 1 year, 3 months ago

Way to go commenters. You took a perfectly legitimate article warning residents of Pinehurst to be aware of scammers and some how made that in to another political mud wrestling match. I think it's fair to say we're going to see enough of that for the next 11 months. Save it for Dusty and Geoff's columns. Get a hobby. I hear golf is big in the area.

dustyrhoades 1 year, 3 months ago

http://thepilot.com/users/photos/2012/jan/31/15585/

Courseaire 1 year, 3 months ago

DR - hehehehehehe McG - I'll wager that anyone that is stupid enough to fall for one of these scams don't own a computer or will see any of these comments. As far as a political mud wrestling match - any and all articles are fair game until Nov. 6, 2012. This isn't about the Pilot articles, it's about which side has the last word. Get used to it! oh, I offended you with my opinion? You should hear the ones I keep to myself.

mcg2010 1 year, 3 months ago

Please, it takes a lot more than comments on the local newspapers website to upset me. If you want to waste your time repeating the same useless rhetoric until November be my guest. My point was that the ability of commenters to make, what is essentially a police blotter, something political is silly. It's not an editorial. Has nothing to do with politics. Why bring it here? Oh, right because someone has to have the "last word." You're not changing anyone's opinions and certainly not mine. But if this is where you get your kicks, keep it going, I can't stop you. I can be annoyed by it and pithy garbage that is spewed back and forth by both side. You can have the "last word" on these comments that the same 14 people comment on, but the "side" with the last word will be determined after the polls close on November 6th.

PS. I've read your comments. I don't believe you do keep much to yourself.

herecomesthescience 1 year, 3 months ago

-mcg2010.. BRAVO and YES!! The same lame group of constant commenters on here turn every article into some political moron fest. It is literally the saddest thing I think I have seen online. Both sides equally guilty.

JER 1 year, 3 months ago

I like to think I'm not on a "side". I'm on an edge....a cutting edge. Yea, that's it, I'm on the cutting edge!! I must be way ahead of the curve. The doctor said I should let it out, let it ALL out. Are you trying to deny me my therapy? Oh wait, I'm not The AP, nevermind.

Thatcher 1 year, 3 months ago

Dang it JER! First Courseaire and now you. My wife thinks I have a nervous tick which causes me to spew sweet tea on the computer screen! Now THAT was funny! All I can say to the folks here complaining about posts becoming "too political" is this: most of the posts are attempts at humor (and many, if not most, succeed); other posts are attempts to disparage anyone who disagrees with the writer (e.g. calling those people "dumb"). I really like the humorous guys/gals (whether liberal or conservative). The folks who think they're smarter than all us "dumb" guys? Not so much...although if they changed direction, got a real sense of humor, and stopped trying to belittle everyone who may disagree with them, I bet they, too, could post something either funny or thoughtful.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 3 months ago

If you listen to Clark Howard you will likely never fall for scams such as these.

geoffcutler 1 year, 3 months ago

I don't care if you're serious or funny, left or right. I don't care if you won't change anyone else's mind. What's important is you're still attempting a discussion about our politics, our lives, our future and our country. And in this age of mindless addiction to handheld tools, that make us little more than foolish autobots, the fact that you're still passionate enough to come on here day after day, as individual Americans who have been given that unique opportuniy, and to show that you do care...that's all that matters.

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