Contact:

Kate Porras
Police Information Coordinator
Grand Junction Police Department
970.244.3601
970.986.9947
katep@gjcity.org

June 2, 2010

NEWS RELEASE
New Phone Scam Hits Grand Junction
(Grand Junction, CO)- The Grand Junction Police Department wishes to inform the public about
a new telephone scam that has cropped up in the Grand Valley.

We are looking into two recent reports involving a California based corporation. A series of
calls made to the potential victims have come from an 818 area code and have been traced back
to Canoga Park, CA. The caller claims to be from a check cashing business and demands several
pieces of personal information such as the last four digits of social security number and an email
address. When the potential victims refuse to give any more information the caller threatens
them with felony charges.

We are investigating the calls, however, the Grand Junction Police Department wants to reiterate
that you should never give out any personal information unless you are sure it is to a legitimate
source.

For calls such as these, you need to know that you cannot be charged with any crimes for
refusing to disclose personal information over the phone. When you receive phone calls of this
nature and the caller begins to use intimidation and threats to fulfill their demands, it is not a
genuine company and you should hang up immediately.

You do not need to subject yourself to harassing phone calls and you have every right to protect
your personal information.

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625 Ute Avenue, GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81501 • P [970] 244 3554 • F [970] 244-3799 • www.gjcity.org