Posted: June 30, 2009

Greenfield — The too-good-to-be true scams are still duping residents and, in recent months, police departments have seen a spike in the number of complaints.

The Greenfield Police Department is reminding residents to never send money to people they don't know. If they are unsure whether they are being targeted with a scam, they should call police.

"Almost all of them involve something that is too good to be true, which should be the first warning sign to anyone," Police Sgt. David Patrick said.

Such complaints to police departments usually come in spurts, Patrick said, but lately the Greenfield Police Department has seen an increase in frequency.

West Allis police have also said they have received many complaints.

Schemes involving the online classified site Craigslist are particularly high, Patrick said. One resident, for example, shipped his Xbox video game system to Nigeria, costing more than $100 in shipping, Patrick said.

Police advise residents using Craigslist to ask for cash and deal only locally.

Other scams occur at a resident's home, such as the scheme in West Allis that fooled elderly residents into letting in strangers who then burglarized their houses.

Residents should look for officially marked vehicles and ask for identification, Patrick said.

"People should always be cautious about who they are letting into their home," he said.

 

- Mark Schaaf