Plainfield residents hit with fake calls demanding cash
By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
msimon@buglenewspapers.com
@PlainfieldNews
It’s been a busy few weeks for the Plainfield Police Department, as members wade through reports from citizens about possible phone scams.
Residents have called the police station complaining of calls from people demanding money for payment of IRS back taxes. Others told police scammers claimed to be a law enforcement official, seeking a bond payment for a family member – often a grandchild – in custody.
Included among those hit by scammers – village trustee James Racich and the family of Police Chief John Konopek.
On Aug. 15, Racich told members of the Plainfield Village Board that someone claiming to be his granddaughter called, asking for money for a hospital bill. Konopek said his own parents were called, asking for money to bail their grandson out of jail.
“We get these scams, and we are not unique; it happens across the country,” Konopek said. “We get these types of phone scams on a regular basis. They typically do target the elderly, but just last week I actually got a phone scam call from, reportedly, the IRS, demanding money, as well.”
Konopek added that scammers target people from all walks of life, young and old, and they tend to play on people’s fears.
Konopek said the scammers can collect information on their targets through social media, then find ways to scare them into paying, such as suggesting that a child or grandchild is hurt or in trouble.
In the majority of these calls, the person will demand some type of payment either via wire transfer or prepaid debit card. At times, the calls may look officials, because the phone number on caller ID will display the IRS or a local police agency. However, if the person on the line is demanding payment, police say to hang up immediately.
“It’s just something that occurs throughout the year,” Konopek noted. “It could be an IRS scam, it could be a ‘you’ve just won a huge prize,’ it could be that a relative has been in a crash [or] a relative is in jail. There’s not one legitimate organization in the country that requests payment over the phone.”
Since many of the scams originate in foreign countries, the police will turn over information to the FBI.
When it comes to unsolicited calls asking for cash, Konopek said folks should trust their instincts.
“If it sticks the hair on the back of your neck up, if something just doesn’t seem right, it’s not right,” Konopek said. “If it sounds too good to be true, it is… Never hesitate to contact your local police agency, and they can help you out.”