http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2011/07/05/news/doc4e1226321745e565032862.txt Read More....
Telephone scammers are continually trying to come up with new twists to their old schemes to defraud the unsuspecting public of their money.
Montcalm County Sheriff's office has issued a new warning on the latest ploy that involves the police themselves.
"The attempted fraud began the same as usual with a call to a 72-year-old Newaygo woman (who was) told she had won a large amount of money from a drawing she had not entered," said Montcalm County Undersheriff Mark Bellinger in a written statement.
"Through the series of subsequent telephone calls between the woman and the suspects trying to defraud her, it was suggested that the suspects had spoken with law enforcement officials who said the the situation was fine," Bellinger said.
The woman was told she could complete a wire transfer and send the money to to a foreign country.
A follow up call caused the would-be victim the most concern.
"The suspect claimed to be a detective and even gave the name of a detective with the Montcalm County Sheriff's Office and instructed the woman (that) the transaction was legitimate."
The woman called the sheriff's office and needless to say, the detective made no such statement. The woman did not lose any money.
"The mere suggestion on behalf of the suspect that they have spoken with law enforcement and the use of the names of legitimate detectives raises concerns among the police officers in the region," Bellinger said.
