OSI provides prevention tips for scams to team members

  • Published
  • By Special Agent Kyle McArthur
  • Air Force Office of Special Investigation Arnold AFB
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  There are many common scams out there today by many different names, but all are attempts to ultimately obtain your hard earned money, and possibly your identification and financial account information.

These scams are floated in various forms through misrepresented calls and emails, online, and even door-to-door – but always with the same criminal intent. While most of these requests impress thoughtful, law-abiding citizens as laughable hoaxes – some are presented very professionally and well-engineered to take advantage of our hurried lifestyles. Unfortunately, millions of dollars in losses are caused by these schemes annually.

Middle Tennessee and even Arnold Air Force Base are not immune to these scams – you must be vigilant and possibly even a little suspicious to protect what is yours.

There are dozens of different types of scams, but most of the reports the Air Force Office of Special Investigation receives locally involve telephone calls and emails from unknown or unrecognized people. When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers or email senders, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of fraud.

PREVENTION TIPS:
• NEVER give out your credit card number to anyone (callers, online or at your door) unless you have verified who you are talking to and know they are reputable.
• VERIFY who you are dealing with before providing sensitive information; be especially cautious of unsolicited contact.
• BE CAUTIOUS when dealing with individuals and companies from outside the country or who claim to be out of country temporarily.

If the identity theft occurred off-base, you should contact the local police and file a report. Reports of the scam can also be provided to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or a complaint can be registered with the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant.

Call (877) ID-THEFT or use the ID theft report form on http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

You will also receive a booklet from the Federal Trade Counsel with step-by-step instructions on what to do to clear your name. When you report, be sure to provide the phone number or email you received the scam from. Otherwise, the call or email can just be deleted from your phone or other media. It is also good practice to place the number and email on auto-reject or auto-delete so you will not be bothered in the future.

If individuals believe they may have fallen victim to a scam, they can immediately report it to the local OSI detachment. Detachment 106 is located in building 100, Suite C305 at Arnold and can be reached at 931-454-7820.

Unless the Air Force experiences a loss or Air Force affiliated persons were involved or targeted based specifically on their Air Force affiliation, AFOSI does not typically investigate these types of cases. AFOSI can still work with you for a resolution and will help refer you to the appropriate agency.

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