Crime & Safety
Police: Be Wary of Phone-Based ID Theft Scams
An identity thief quickly hung up the phone after a Port Chester woman became suspicious about her questions, according to police.
A Port Chester woman did the right thing when she refused to give her Social Security number to a phone-based scammer, and police want the public to know they may be targeted by similar scams.
The incident happened on Dec. 8, when a 69-year-old Port Chester woman received a call from a female who said she was representing Medicare. After offering the victim a free glucose meter, the caller began asking after the Port Chester woman's personal details, Lt. James Ladeairous said.
The caller already had the woman's name and address. After the caller asked for the woman's date of birth and Social Security number, the potential victim became suspicious and said she wouldn't give that information out over the phone.
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That's when the caller ended the conversation abruptly, Ladeairous said. Caller ID didn't display a callback number, just a series of zeroes, according to the report.
The Port Chester woman's Internet Service Provider urged her to file a police report. Ladeairous said anyone who receives similar calls should also file reports with the Port Chester Police Department by calling 914-939-1000. All calls will be kept confidential.
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