Warning About Scammers Trying To Sweet Talk Personal Information From People

GOLDEN, Colo (CBS4) The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office issued a warning about scammers identifying themselves as County workers and trying to sweet talk people out of their personal information. The District Attorney's Office was informed of the scam by a resident who got the call. The resident asked not to be identify, but she told CBS4 that she got a call from a polite, soft spoken man claiming to work for Jefferson County. He said that he has important documents to deliver and confirming her address.

"They have some number they gave me and I said, 'No, that's not the number. It's this one.' So right there I offered information," the resident said.

The caller then gave her a phone number to call and a reference number. The caller stressed the situation was urgent. The resident called the number and  was told she forged a name on a credit card application. That is when the hard sell began. The resident said the new person on the line was aggressive and threatening.

"She got me really scared," the resident said.

The whole scenario didn't make sense to this resident, so her next move was to call the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.

"This is not how government agencies act. And there's also some reference that there may be a criminal overtone. This is not how prosecutor offices conduct themselves. It's not how DA's conduct themselves," said Peter Weir, Jefferson County District Attorney.

In this case, the caller is trying to get personal information, a social security number, possibly a credit card number, anything that would allow them to steal an identity.

Many of these calls mention an outstanding bill. Colorado does not have a debtor's prison. Law enforcement will not arrest you for failure to pay a bill, unless a judge has ordered a bench warrant for failure to appear in court or failure to comply.

The bottom line is to stay calme when faced with aggressive or even polite phone calls and don't give out any of your personal information.
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- Written for the Web by CBS4 Special Projects Producer Libby Smith