Harrison police advise residents to stay alert to phone scams

Harrison police are issuing an alert to residents to be on the lookout for phone scammers.

Chief Brian Turack said his officers are investigating a high-dollar fraud in which a resident was duped out of thousands.

He said he could not release specific information because the case is active.

“We want to notify the public that scammers are on the increase in the summer,” he said.

“In many instances, they call your house with believable or personal information to try to convince you to withdraw cash, and they tell you someone will be by to pick it up.”

In some cases, the scammer might tell you a family member got arrested in another state, Turack said.

“They tell you that when you give them the money, your family member will be released. Unfortunately, they make it sound believable and people fall for it.”

Turack said scammers are becoming so clever that they use artificial intelligence to imitate voices of the victim’s family to make the call seem legitimate.

The chief urges anyone who receives a call like this to hang up and reach out to their family members.

“Always call them and verify that they are OK,” he said. “Also, notify police.”

The scams aren’t new.

In April, Pittsburgh FBI officials warned people of an ongoing phone fraud where a caller portrays themselves as a special agent, and the phone number shows up on caller ID as the FBI.

Callers tell the victim their identity has been compromised and used to send suspicious money transfers overseas.

Victims have been asked to “prove their identity” by purchasing money cards and send other personal information, with a promise that the money will be returned afterward.

Other scams investigated by the FBI have people imitating local law enforcement and telling the victim they have fines for outstanding warrants, or that they are in contempt of court for failing to appear for jury duty.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is asked to contact Harrison police at 724-224-3355.