Card scam takes toll

Colfax Police Chief Bill Hickman last Thursday reported a new version of a telephone scam has surfaced in Colfax. Some residents have reported they have been victimized by the scam. The largest loss known to date is $2,500, the chief said.

The scam begins with a caller who explains to a resident he or she has been named the winner of a large cash prize. The resident is then advised that “administrative costs” have to be covered before the prize can be forwarded. Residents are advised to obtain a pre-paid credit card and send it to the caller.

Chief Hickman said most residents who have reported the scam attempt note the caller or callers can actually be abusive on the phone if the residents question the procedure involved. He noted the callers sometimes asked for an uneven amount to be put on the credit card, apparently to make the administrative fee request sound more valid. The last request was for $533.

Hickman said in some cases they have been able to trace the caller’s telephone number, but apparently the source of the calls is overseas and somehow re-routed. He noted the scam attempt surfaced last spring with several calls, went away for several months, and has now returned.