Press release<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Batavia\u2019s has become aware of a scam in which the scammers are using the phone number and name of the City in an attempt to get victims to provide personal banking information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The caller ID comes across as \u201cCity of Batavia\u201d with the phone number 585-343-8182. The scammer is telling victims they have overcharged on a utility bill and want information to reimburse the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Batavia will not request personal banking information over the phone. The City only provides refunds or payments to citizens and vendors in the form of a check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Follows these tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help avoid fraud: 1. Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don\u2019t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request \u2014 whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like \u201creview,\u201d \u201ccomplaint\u201d or \u201cscam.\u201d Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like \u201cIRS call.\u201d You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Don\u2019t believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren\u2019t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Don\u2019t pay upfront for a promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you\u2019ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don\u2019t. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it\u2019s nearly impossible to get your money back. That\u2019s also true for reloadable cards (like MoneyPak or Reloadit) and gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play). Government offices and honest companies won\u2019t require you to use these payment methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert \u2014 or just tell a friend. 7. Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don\u2019t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls. 8. Be skeptical about free trial offers. Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don\u2019t recognize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Don\u2019t deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you\u2019re responsible for repaying the bank. 10. Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov\/scams. Get the latest tips and advice about scams sent right to your inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you spot a scam, report it at ftc.gov\/complaint. Your reports help the FTC and other law enforcement investigate scams and bring crooks to justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Press release The City of Batavia\u2019s has become aware of a scam in which the scammers are using the phone number and name of the City in an attempt to get victims to provide personal banking information. The caller ID comes across as \u201cCity of Batavia\u201d with the phone number \u2026<\/p>\n