SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The American Legion Post 795 in South Lake Tahoe was the target of a scam on Friday and Saturday, costing the non-profit that serves veterans and active military in the Lake Tahoe region almost $3,000.
Commander Tom Millham received a call on Friday from a man who said he was with Liberty and the Legion’s power was about to be cut off due to lack of payment. The caller said workers were on their way over at that moment. Tom, knowing one person was there operating a rummage sale and not wanting their power to be cut, he listened.
The caller said the Legion owed $1987. Tom asked if they would accept half, and the scammer on the other end of the line said yes. Tom went to get a $1,000 MoneyPak (a prepaid debit card offered by Green Dot). He then calls who he thought was Liberty and is instructed to remove the security tab on the back and give him the number located there.
MoneyPaks are sold locally at Safeway and 7-11.
The scammer then says he was sorry, but his supervisor said they could not accept just 50 percent of the payment, and Tom went to purchase the remaining amount, again on MoneyPak. The scammer said, “Our guys have to see your receipt, but they are gone for the day, but they’ll come out in the morning to see the receipts.”
Tom made an appointment to meet them at the Legion on Saturday at 10 a.m. When nobody showed up, Tom called the number provided by the scammer, who informed him that the person Tom spoke with on Friday was mistaken, and the workers aren’t on duty on Saturdays. He also informed the commander that “Liberty” also needed a current payment to keep them from turning off the power – another $900.
Tom went and purchased more MoneyPak cards and gave them the codes on the back when he called the 800 number they provided.
Tom said he asked the “Liberty” guy questions and he was satisfied with the answers, leading him to believe it really was Liberty on the other end of the call. Tom isn’t the bookkeeper for the Legion and thought they might have been behind on payments.
On Monday, March 31, Tom filed a report with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department when he figured out the American Legion had fallen prey to a common scam.
Liberty tells customers not to fall for common scams, and many people don’t see it coming. Tom wanted to share this news with the public so they too don’t fall for it.
Liberty’s normal procedure for late accounts is a series of emails, and not even a phone call. Once an account is delinquent for multiple months delinquent, more emails will follow along with a robo-call.
The utility company says to always call the phone number on their website, not what a caller may give you, or what may be on an email that isn’t from them. They say to never take anyone’s word for their number, and look for a posted, trusted number.
Neither the South Lake Tahoe Police Department or Liberty reported any other recent scams with similar details.
If anyone would like to help the American Legion with helping to make up the loss, they can mail a payment to the American Legion, 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
