News : Fake telemarketers target Vinton area---with a new twist

Over the past 24 hours, Vinton Police have received many calls about a telemarketing ploy taking place in the Vinton area.

"We're getting complaints from local citizens who are receiving unwanted and unsolicited phone calls from a credit card telemarketing firm. The new twist is that these calls appear on the recipient's caller ID as if they're coming from a local, 472 prefix telephone number." Vinton Police Chief Jeff Tilson said today.

"These companies are using computer software that permits the "masking" of their true caller ID information with information they put into it. A lot of people won't pick up the phone if they don't recognize the number now days, and this telemarketing company has figured out a way, at least temporarily, to defeat our ability to screen our calls, and only take the ones we think we may want to." Tilson added.

Many of the complaints Vinton Police have received about this telemarketing sceme have appeared on caller ID as coming from Virginia Gay Hospitals and Clinics, local businesses, and private citizens.

"We first want to make sure everyone understands what is going on, and to not take out their hostility with who they think is the owner of the phone number showing up on their caller ID---they're a victim of this deceptive practice too" Tilson noted.

"There is nothing the Police Department can do to help with this situation other than to encourage anyone who has gotten one of these calls to hang up, and report it to the Federal Trade Commission, who has the authority to investigate these type of complaints." Tilson added.

Anyone receiving a call of this nature who wishes to report it may do so by calling the Federal Trade Commission at 877 382-4357, or by going online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

Jeff Tilson, Chief

Vinton Police Department

310 A Avenue, P.O. Box 529

Vinton, IA 52349

Office (319) 472-2321