Spanish-speaking Population Targeted with a Bogus Offer and Threat

Law enforcement advises residents not to fall for hoax

By Kris Lovekin on November 9, 2012

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside has received several complaints from Spanish-speaking residents

about scam telephone calls offering language classes for a $150 fee, with a threat that if they do not pay the money they could be deported. The caller pretends to be from UC Riverside.

“We want people to know that this is a scam and a hoax,” said John Freese, the assistant police chief at UC Riverside. He has heard about 10 people who have complained to the campus about it, which means there could be many more people who have received the call.

“We are investigating, but in the meantime we want to make area residents aware that this is a false claim. “The university would never threaten the community.”

Callers are advised to hang up. There is no need to report the call. Authorities are already investigating who is responsible for the calls, Freese said.

“If you feel that you have already been the victim of fraud, please report that to your local police department,” Freese said.

En Espanol:

Hispanohablantes son blanco de engaño y amenaza El estafador se hace pasar por un representante de UCR

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside ha recibido varias quejas de residentes hispanoparlantes quienes han  recibido llamadas telefónicas de un estafador que ofrece clases de idiomas por una cuota de $150; el timador luego amenaza que si no pagan esa suma podrían ser deportados. La persona que llama se hace pasar por un representante de UCR.

“Queremos que la gente sepa que esto es una estafa y”, dijo John Freese, asistente del jefe de policía de UCR. Él sabe de por lo menos 10 personas que se han quejado con la Universidad sobre este hecho, lo que significa que más personas podrían haber recibido este tipo de llamada.

“Seguimos investigando, pero mientras tanto queremos que los residentes del área sepan que se trata de una afirmación falsa. La Universidad jamás intimidaría a la comunidad”.

Se aconseja a quienes reciban este tipo de llamadas que cuelguen el teléfono. No es necesario reportar esas llamadas. Las autoridades ya están investigando quien es responsable de las llamadas.

Archived under: Inside UCR, hoax, john freese, scam artist, telephone calls, un engaño

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