Three Arnold residents were the victims of recent scams, losing a total of $2,769.55 between them, Arnold Police report.
At about 9 a.m. Dec. 17, Arnold Police got a call from a 68-year-old man who had been scammed out of $1,300, which he wired to the Dominican Republic, Arnold Police Capt. Robert Ruckman said.
The victim told police that someone called him at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 claiming to be his son and stating that he had been in an accident in Atlanta, Ga., and was in jail and needed the money to get out of jail, so he sent it, the report said.
That case has been turned over to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Arnold Police Ruckman said.
Arnold Police got a call at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 about a 30-year-old woman who was scammed out of $350, Ruckman said.
The woman said someone contacted her claiming to be with the IRS and demanding she immediately pay the money to avoid arrest. She provided them with a number from a prepaid credit card to pay the $350, Ruckman said.
That case was turned over to the IRS, he said.
Arnold Police got a call at 9:46 a.m. Dec. 24 about the third scam.
A 29-year-old man said he answered a Craig’s List ad asking for people to advertise an energy drink on their vehicle. The man was asked to send a certified check for $1,119.55 to an address in Joplin after receiving a $1,650 check. He got the $1,650 check and then sent the certified check, which was drawn from his own funds. Later, the man discovered the $1,650 check was fraudulent, the report said.
The case is being handled by the Arnold Police Detective Bureau. As of Thursday (Jan. 15), there were no suspects or arrests, Ruckman said.
Ruckman warns people to be skeptical when unknown people ask for money.
He also said the IRS will never contact people demanding immediate payment.