AlertsOn this page you will find alerts of scams and fraud circulating the community. As we get news of new scams or fraud, it will be posted here in order to help prevent you and your family, your id

AlertsOn this page you will find alerts of scams and fraud circulating the community. As we get news of new scams or fraud, it will be posted here in order to help prevent you and your family, your identity and your finances being scammed or compromised. Please report scams and fraud alerts to the Charlevoix City Police Department. If you ever have questions about what you think may be a scam or if you have been a victim of a scam or fraud, please contact the Charlevoix City Police Department. The Charlevoix City Police Department can be contacted at 231-547-3258 or visited at our office located at 210 State St. Charlevoix, MI 49720 during office hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. You may also contact our non-emergency Central Dispatch Center to report scams or fraud by dialing 911. Norton GenieNorton Genie is a new AI-powered scam detector you can download straight to your mobile device or use online. You can download the app through the App Store or Google Play. Norton Genie is hassle-free, spots scams in seconds, is simple to use, and helps you stay ahead of threats to prevent being scammed. If you think your texts, emails, social media messages, or websites are scams, ask Norton Genie and you will know instantly. To use, upload a screenshot or copy and paste the text, email, social media message, or website to Norton Genie and it will detect whether it is a scam or not. Norton Genie also provides answers to scam questions and tips on what to do if you fall victim to a scam.NotesIf you receive a scam or fraudulent call, contact your phone provider to block the phone number(s) you are receiving scam and fraud calls from. If you have any suspicions the phone call is a scam or fraud call, DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. If you do give out your personal information, please contact the Charlevoix City Police Department or 911.Report Identity TheftTo report identity theft, complete a Federal Trade Commission identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov and put an extended fraud alert on your credit report. To get an instant copy of your credit report go to AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also report identity theft by contacting the Charlevoix City Police Department.Current Scams and Fraud AlertsTell your family and friends about these scams and fraud alerts and urge them to be cautious. The best way to avoid falling victim to a scam or fraud alert is to be educated about how a scam and fraud alerts work, to look for those warning signs and to simply hang up the phone.Local Business Fraud AlertHow the Scam Typically WorksA trusted vendor or contractor's email account is compromised, or a look-alike email address is created.The scammer monitors communications and identifies upcoming payments or invoices.The business receives an email - appearing legitimate - requesting updated payment instructions (such as new wiring details or ACH information).Funds are transferred to a fraudulent account before the deception is discovered.Red Flags to Watch ForSudden changes to payment instructions, especially involving urgency.Requests to bypass normal payment procedures.Slight alterations in email addresses (extra letters, misspellings, or domain changes).Unusual tone or formatting in otherwise familiar communications.Recommended SafeguardsVerify all payment changes independently: Use a known, trusted phone number - not one listed in the email - to confirm any request involving payment changes.Implement dual authorization: Require a second level of approval for any wire transfers or changes to vendor payment details.Train employees: Ensure staff handling invoices and payments are aware of these tactics.Use multi-factor authentication (MFA): Protect email accounts and financial systems from unauthorized access.Establish internal protocols: Standardize procedures for verifying vendor communications and payment updates.Caller ID SpoofingThis is a tactic used by scammers to disguise their phone number, making it appear as though a call is coming from a trusted source - such as a government agency, loved one, police department, or local business - when it is not.These fraudulent calls are often used to trick individuals into providing personal information, sending money, or granting access to sensitive accounts. Scammers may claim there is a legal issue, an urgent payment due, or even that a loved one is in trouble. To protect yourself: Be cautious of unsolicited calls asking for money, personal details, or account information. Do not trust caller ID alone - technology allows scammers to make any number appear legitimate. Hang up and call back using the official phone number from the organization's website or a verified source. Never give out social security numbers, bank details, or passwords over the phone. Report suspicious calls to your local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.reportfraud.ftc.govRemember: legitimate agencies will never demand payment or personal information over the phone. Facebook Marketplace ScamScammers find real estate listings and pose as the owner's of the real estate being sold. They will create a Facebook account in the name of the owner of the real estate property and claim to be having a moving sale. The scammers post nice items (i.e. furniture, golf carts, lawn mowers, big items, etc.) for sale. When buyers message stating they want to buy an item, the scammer asks for a deposit on the item so it can be held for the buyer. Once the buyer sends the deposit, their money is gone and they will no longer hear from the scammer. Please do not send a deposit to a seller of an item on Facebook Marketplace without seeing the item in person first. If you see this scam occurring on Facebook Marketplace, report the seller's Facebook account immediately. "There is a Warrant for Your Arrest and We Need to Collect Payment"A scam call many have received is from a caller claiming to be with the Charlevoix City Police Department and stating there is a warrant for your arrest. The caller then proceeds to ask for payment over the phone to resolve the warrant. The Charlevoix City Police Department will never call stating a warrant has been issued in your name and proceed to ask for payment. Do not give out your bank account or personal information and block the phone number that called.The "Grandparents Scam"Grandparents are receiving scam calls from callers claiming to be the grandparent's grandchild. Some of these calls are even disguised with their grandchild's voice. The caller claims their grandchild was either in a car accident or they have been arrested and need money to be sent right away. The caller may ask for this to be kept secret. Scammers may know names, relationships or other details that they can easily find on social media websites or the internet. Worried grandparents rush to help and once the money is sent, it is gone.Senior Citizens are so often the targets of such family emergency scams that they've earned the nickname, "The Grandparent's Scam". Before you send money, take a deep breath and do some quick checking to make sure you don't fall victim. Try to verify the caller's identity by asking questions that a stranger could not possibly know. Call supposed family member on a phone number that you know to be genuine. Call another family member (i.e. grandchild's parents) to verify that there is an actual problem or emergency. Scammers Wanting Your Life Savings / Gift Cards"Tech Support" scammers use fake security pop-ups to get you to call a number. Instead of telling you there's a virus, they now say someone hacked your bank, investment, or retirement account and is using it for fraud. To "help" they transfer you to another scammer who pretends to be with a government agency (i.e. the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the FBI) or the fraud department at your bank. The scammer says the only way to protect your money is to transfer it to a new account. These scammers will also often ask you to keep them on an open phone call when you go to your bank to transfer your money into a new account and ask you to not let the bank know they are on the phone listening and directing you on what to do. The problem is the scammer controls that new account and quickly cleans it out.Other scammers take the same approach but tell you to "protect" your money by buying gift cards and sharing the numbers on the back, buying bitcoin and sharing the account information, or withdrawing cash and dropping it off to someone in person.Here's what to know. Never call a number on a security pop-up warning. Pop-ups that tell you to call tech support are always scams. Never move or transfer your money to "protect it". Only a scammer will tell you to do that. Never give someone a verification code to log in to your account. Scammers want it to get into your account. Call your real bank, broker, or investment advisor if you're worried and use a number you know is real.Green Dot MoneyPak CardsPeople are losing thousands of dollars in a phone scam involving Green Dot MoneyPak cards. After receiving a call from someone who claims to be collecting a debt for a Utility Company, people are being threatened with the loss of their heat or electricity. The caller informs the victim they can avoid having their utility service be disconnected if they immediately pay the past due amount using a Green Dot MoneyPak card that can be purchased at a local store. The caller instructs the victim to purchase a Green Dot MoneyPak card in a specified amount and provides the victim with a phone number to be called back when the card has been purchased. The victim then shares the card's serial number to the caller and the caller is then able to transfer funds onto a prepaid debit card forcing the victim to lose their money.Callers are also claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) telling victims they owe back taxes, fees or fines. Victims are threatened to be either arrested or deported if they do not immediately pay using a Green Dot MoneyPak card.Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason. Remember that anyone who has the number on a Green Dot MoneyPak card has access to the funds on the card. Never give out personal or financial information to anyone who emails or calls you unsolicited. Never wire money, provide debit or credit card numbers or Green Dot MoneyPak card numbers to someone you do not know. Utility companies and government agencis will not contact you demanding immediate payment by MoneyPak.USPS "Package Has Arrived at Transit Center"This is a "smishing" (SMS phising) scam where victims receive a text message claiming to be from the United States Postal Service (USPS) stating that they have a package that arrived at a transit center but can't be delivered due to an incorrect shipping address. The message contains a malicious link to a fake USPS site designed to steal personal information. It instructs you to click the link and enter your personal information so they can deliver your package but the link goes to a phising site that steals your information. USPS does not contact customers via unsolicited texts with links to non-USPS websites. They communicate postal issues through official channels only after you initiate contact. Any SMS messages about an address update needed to deliver a package are scams. Real USPS texts will come from a verified USPS number only. They will never contain links outside USPS.com or request personal details to correct address problems. Contact USPS directly if you have delivery concerns.Package Delivery Scam - Delivered to Your InboxVictims are receiving a phony "delivery failure notification" email. The email looks like it's from USPS but it is not. The email says you missed a delivery, but it says if you print the attached form and take it to your local post office, you can pick up your package and avoid penalties. The message might also include a link for more details. If you download the attachment or click on the link, you will likely end up with a virus or malware on your device. Scammers often use names and logos of familiar organizations to get under your guard. The email will urge you to take immediate action and ask you to "re-confirm" your personal or financial information.Amazon ScamA new complicated scam starts with a call or text message about a suspicious charge on your Amazon account. But it's not really Amazon. It's a scammer with an elaborate story about fraud using your identity that ends with you draining your bank accounts. It's not Amazon calling. Scammers proof their phone number to make it look like it's Amazon calling. Here is an example of a text message sent by scammers:"Your Card Was Debited $743 for Order ID #907424 At #AmznStore On March-11-2024. To Stop This Transaction, CALL 1-844-408-3924 To approve reply (YES)."Don't trust what the call or text message tells you. If you are suspicious about a purchase on Amazon, log in to Amazon through the website or app. Do not call back the number that called you or a number someone left in a voicemail or text message. No one legitimate will tell you to keep it a secret. If there is a problem with your account or identity always talk with someone you trust - especially if the caller states it's serious or involves a crime or claims to be from the government.Additional ResourcesIf you are not sure what to do, or would like additional information about the tactic scam artists commonly use, call the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Unit at 860-808-5420.Norton Genie Free Scam DetectorHow to Avoid Scams/What to do if You Were Scammed/Report Fraud and Scams (FTC)Fake Emergencies (FTC)Credit Bureau ContactsHow to Avoid Imposter ScamsSigns of an IRS Tax Scam and How to Report ItUnited States Treasury Inspector GeneralWhat to Ask Yourself When Questioning Scams and Fraud