District Attorney warns of credit card scam

Scam robocalls affect local residents

PRESS RELEASE
May 21, 2014

GARFIELD, PITKIN AND RIO BLANCO COUNTIES, CO – Local residents have received robocalls regarding credit cards that have prompted a consumer advisory from 9th Judicial District Attorney Sherry Caloia. The calls inform people that their Chase credit card is locked, and that they need to provide their credit card to the caller to address the problem.

“I am alerting people to this scam and they should immediately hang up without providing any personal information” said Caloia. “This vigilance may protect their accounts. Cardholders who are concerned that something may actually affect their accounts should call their card company on a separate call, using the 800 number from their card or billing receipt.”

Robocalls use computerized autodialers to deliver recorded messages to a wide range of callers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website states that the FTC has stopped companies responsible for billions of illegal robocalls that have offered fraudulent credit card services, so-called auto warranty protection plans, medical discount cards, and grant procurement programs. The FTC has challenged innovators to create solutions to block illegal robocalls, and last month banned a marketer from telemarketing using robocalls to offer credit card services, home security systems and grant procurement programs.

This specific scam is not new. A news station in Washington reported the same scam in 2013, and the Better Business Bureau reported in July of 2011 that scammers had targeted Chase clients.