Anna Crime Watch

Attorney General Abbott Warns Of Grandparent Scam

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

 The Office of the Attorney General is warning retirees and senior citizens to be wary of a grandparentscam. Recent reports indicate that seniors have been receiving telephone calls from a purportedgrandchild in need of money. Usually, the ruse includes a caller who says something like “Hi, grandma,” or “Hey, it’s your favorite grandson.” The caller’s goal is to learn the name of a recipient’s actual grandchild. Sometimes the caller may even have learned the name of the grandchildren in advance – and claim to be a grandchild on the call. The caller typically tells the victim that he or she has been in an accident, was arrested, is stranded or in similar trouble and needs money immediately. Most often, the caller claims to be traveling in Canada. The “grandchild” also insists that the victim not tell anyone else – which increases the odds that the fraud will be successful. If all goes according to the con artist’s plan, the victim will wire money to the “grandchild.” By the time the elderly call recipient realizes what happened, the money is long gone and most likely not recoverable. This type of fraud is particularly troubling, as it plays upon a grandparent’s natural desire to protect a grandchild. Although variations of this scam have been around for a long time, it has become more sophisticated with the proliferation of information on the Internet. Con artists are more often using personal information gleaned from family blogs, genealogy Web sites, social networking Web sites and online newspapers to add credibility to their calls. Reports from law enforcement agencies around the country suggest that the scam works too often. 

Watch out for these red flags:

• Callers requesting money.
• Callers claiming to be in Canada or other foreign location.
• Callers insisting on secrecy.
• Urgent callers pressuring quick action.
•  Callers with unfamiliar voices.
• Callers requesting that money to be sent by wire transfer (because those funds are hard to trackand almost impossible to recover).
• Vague or elusive callers who get personal details wrong. 

Texans should always exercise some skepticism when they receive telephone calls urgently requesting money. If a relative calls and asks for money, they should verify the identity of the caller with personal questions a stranger would not be able to answer. Seniors should not “fill in the blanks” for callers but should ask them to give their names. Texans may also consider calling back using a telephone number they know to be genuine.  Another option is to ignore the caller’s wishes and verify the story with another family member.

Texans who believe they have been the target of a scam should contact the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 252-8011 or online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Other Resources:PhoneBustersCanadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre

(888) 495-8501

www.phonebusters.cominfo@phonebusters.com 

Federal Trade Commission(877) FTC-HELPwww.ftc.gov

Better Business Bureauwww.bbb.org

 Greg Abbott

Over the last week we have experienced two business burglaries and one home burglary.  The business burglaries ocurred on N Powell Pkwy.  It is unknown if the two incidents are related.  The home burglary ocurred during daytime hours (9:00am to 11:00 am).  The suspects kicked open the front door and removed a TV, game console, and laptop computer.  Neighbors said there was a newer model white (possibly Ford) truck parked in the driveway of the residence during those hours.  Suspects are not known at this time but it is suspected that they have been watching the neighborhood.  This incident ocurred in the Pecan Grove subdivision.

Please report any suspicious vehicles or people to the police immediately. 

On December 12, 2008 there was a garage burglary in the Stetson Ranch edition.  The suspect entered an open garage and removed a motorcycle.  The motorcycle was a dirt bike type and was easily placed in the bed of a pick-up truck.  The home owner followed the truck to the car wash on FM 455.  When the suspect accelerated through the parking lot, the bike fell out of the truck and was recovered by the owner. 

The suspect vehicle is an older model green Ford stepside pick-up truck occupied by a white male with dark colored hair.  The license is 71Z-JH8 TX.  If you see this vehicle, please contact Anna Police 972-924-2848.

We remind you to keep your garage doors closed when you are not using the garage.  Keep your vehicles locked and all items out of view.  Thiefs look for opportunity and generally when opportunity knocks, they answer.  Please stay safe and have a happy holiday!

On 09/01/2008 at about 0209 hours, Anna Police Officers were dispatched to the 2100 Block of Penton Linns Drive in reference to possible shots fired.  Dispatchers received several 911 calls from residents reporting hearing 2-3 gunshots.  The female resident of 2106 Penton Linns Drive reported that she had observed a black male standing in her garage when she went to close it for the night.  She immediately alerted her husband.  Her husband and a visiting neighbor went outside to investigate.  As they were checking the perimeter of his home, the husband could hear the dogs two doors down barking incessantly.  As they approached the home, a black male emerged from between the two homes and opened fire with a handgun.  As the suspect fled, the homeowner gave chase.  During the foot chase, the homeowner reported that the black male fired two to three more shots at him.  The chase ended at the corner of Niagara Falls Drive and Stanley Falls Drive, when the homeowner tackled the subject.  The two became involved in a fight but the black male suspect escaped and then ran to a dark green Ford Explorer that was parked on Niagara Falls.  The suspect entered the Explorer and then left the area at a high rate of speed.

The homeowner was treated for his injuries at Presbyterian Hospital in Allen and was released.

Two neighboring homes sustained damage from the suspect’s gunfire: a vehicle in the garage of a neighborhood home had the back window shattered when a stray bullet entered through the garage door; at the second home, the bullet entered through the front window and struck a wood filing cabinet.  Residents at both homes were home at the time the shooting occurred, but no one was injured.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 20’s.  His height is between 6’00 and 6’02 and his weight was described as 210 to 220 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and unknown color or type of pants.  The vehicle is a dark green 90’s model Ford Explorer (Unknown TX tag).  The color on the hood of the truck is faded.  Suspect was armed with a small handgun and should be considered dangerous.  The suspect possibly received facial injuries from the confrontation.

Anyone with any information regarding the suspect or shooting incident, please contact the Anna Police Department @ 972-924-2848 or 972-547-5350

National Night Out for Texans this year will be moved from August to October.  Hopefully, cooler temperatures will increase participation.  October 7 is scheduled and plans are already being made to make NNO a success in 2008!  If you are interested in participating or in helping with the logistics of the event, please contact Sgt. Jeff Caponera by Email, jcaponera@annatexas.gov to volunteer your time.  Chief Jenks