Residents warned of scams

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Local law enforcement agencies are warning people to be alert to a variety of scams reported recently - from a pair of thieves tricking businesses into giving up valuable scrap metal to fake lottery letters bilking citizens through the mail.

Here are some of the con games going on around the Sauk Valley:

Scrap-metal con

Two dark-complected white men have conned workers at at least two businesses - one in Amboy and the other near Rock Falls - into believing they have official permission to collect scrap metal, Detective Shane Miller said. The suspects stole thousands of dollars worth of metal and could be responsible for thefts of more than $100,000 in copper, brass and other metals in similar schemes in towns stretching from Mendota to Elgin to Woodstock, Miller said.

The men are believed to drive a silver or dark green pickup truck with dual wheels on the back, Miller said.

False money orders

Those placing for-sale ads, beware: This scam begins with a phone call from an "operator" who says there is a deaf person on the line who wants to buy the item advertised.

After working out the sale details via e-mail, the scammer sends an official-looking money order, which the seller cashes. It usually takes several days before the money order comes back from the bank as false, and by that time, the buyer is long gone with the item, Glessner said.

Second eBay chance

This scam targets shoppers from the popular online auction site eBay.

Losing bidders receive an official-looking e-mail saying the highest bidder has changed his mind. The e-mail offers a "second chance" to buy the item at a reduced price.

The scammer receives the payment; the buyer never receives the item, Glessner said.

Collect call forwarding

The caller ID read "prison," but when Patty Susan of Dixon answered the phone, a man told her there had been an accident and she needed to write down a phone number and call "Sgt. Johnson" immediately for more information.

Fearing a family member had been hurt, Susan called the number, which began with star 72, and got a recorded message from "Sgt. Johnson" asking the caller to leave a message.

What Susan later learned was she'd unwittingly forwarded her calls to a number that allowed a prisoner to make a collect call using her line, and she was charged for the calls.

The sheriff's department has gotten at least two complaints about this intricate phone scam, Glessner said.

Fake lottery letters

"We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the declared winners of DE-LOTTO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY," begins the "winning final notification," in a scam commonly referred to as a "Canadian lottery" by police. Lee County has had several recent complaints from citizens who fell victim to the promise of free cash, Detective. Sgt. David Glessner said.

Such letters purport that the recipient has won a portion of an out-of-the-country lottery, and encloses a check alleged to be a small portion of the winnings that is needed to pay taxes or a fee before the winnings can be collected. Victims cash the authentic-looking check, then wire the cash and wait for their winnings to arrive. Only later, when the check bounces, do many learn of the theft.

Don't become a victim

To keep from being victimized, people should learn as much as possible about the identification of the other party in any given situation, Glessner said.

That may require writing down a driver's license or license plate number, or dialing information and asking for the other person by name.

When selling things, be wary of taking checks or money orders as payment. Just be cautious, Glessner said, sounding the old adage: "If it sound too good to be true, it usually is."

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.