Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
The Metropolis of Houston Controller’s Workplace has acquired a number of stories of rip-off callers impersonating metropolis officers.
The fraudulent callers demand instant funds by wire transfers or by arranging in-person conferences after claiming that an individual owes delinquent taxes or metropolis charges, in keeping with the controller’s workplace.
“We’re notably involved that these scammers are focusing on older residents — those that could also be extra trusting or unfamiliar with the sort of fraud,” the workplace mentioned in a Friday assertion to Houston Public Media. “In some circumstances, the caller claims the person’s title seems in a ‘delinquent tax database,’ which is totally false.”
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Town controller’s workplace mentioned it has acquired one to 2 inquiries per day from residents who mentioned they’ve been contacted by scammers posing as staffers with the workplace. Officers mentioned they consider the variety of rip-off calls could also be a lot increased as a result of some go unreported.
The workplace doesn’t name to demand funds or request private or financial institution data. Metropolis officers are encouraging folks to report the rip-off calls to 311. The controller’s workplace is working with metropolis and regulation enforcement companies to observe the calls.
“Sadly, impersonation scams are usually not new,” the controller’s workplace mentioned in its assertion. “The latest enhance in circumstances involving callers claiming to be from the Controller’s Workplace mirror a broader sample of scams focusing on residents by posing as metropolis officers or companies.”
