Police Warn of New Telephone Scam 09-17-01

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL DIVISION
LIEUTENANT CHADWICK K. FUKUI
PHONE: 961-2311
SEPTEMBER 17, 2001

MEDIA RELEASE

Police are warning Big Island residents to be wary of phone calls from persons falsely identifying themselves as representing Wall Street companies and asking for personal financial information.

Police have received complaints that callers have identified themselves as representing the financial services firm of Dun & Bradstreet. The callers then ask for the person’s name, address, Social Security number and bank account number.

A Dun & Bradstreet spokesman reached by police said that unscrupulous con artists have been trying to take advantage of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon by calling persons and asking them for their financial account numbers to verify their accounts.

The spokesman said the company has instructed its employees to identify themselves by full name, identification number and phone number.

Lieutenant Chad Fukui of the South Hilo Patrol Division warned Big Island residents against giving out personal financial information to callers.

“Disclosing personal financial information over the phone is an invitation for the caller to clean out your checking or savings account,” Fukui said.

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