scam

Gene Now, Doug is Back with the old “locked out” and needs money for transport bit

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

I live in the 400 block of M Street, NW. This man, who called himself Doug, approached our residence around 11 pm last night (Sunday 11/14). He claimed to live in the neighborhood and was locked out and needed a phone to call someone for help. He used my phone to first call a “friend” who didn’t pick up. He claimed to work for Whitman Walker Health, so he called his “office” number (the actual WWH phone #) and again no answer. He had me dial and put the phone on speaker, I believe so I would hear both calls go to answering machines. (more…)

Today’s Rental Scam

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Flickr user Peter Zillmann

“Dear PoPville,

Below is the ad and he had a follow up e-mail. I guess the learning point here is generally if it is too good to be true, its too good to be true. At one point he had even linked the person’s facebook page for me. What lead me to research was the fact that he was using an @aol.com email address, I guess a pretty obvious give away.

Any way that you can spread the word to get people to avoid this would be appreciated.

I e-mailed the real Barak Sky. He has a g-mail and this guy is using an aol account (who uses AOL anymore).”

Hello,

The unit is located @ #1441 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005. This is a fully furnished apartment but can be rented unfurnished upon your request and it comes with all modern amenities; (more…)

Your Morning Scam Alert – Pepco Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

Heads up, a reader reports:

“Just got a scam call from a guy claiming to work for pepco. He stated that a work order has been issued to shut off my power and all they needed is a payment over the phone In order to cancel the order. Stay alert and be safe. Spread the word.”

Continuing Coverage of the $20 for two $10s Guy Continues

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Jennifer

Thanks to Elizabeth for sending:

“I saw him between 12th and 13th on New York Avenue this morning.”

Ed. Note: Our summer intern is currently working on the interactive map that they will hopefully finish before returning to their studies at Miami University (the Harvard of Ohio) – STAY TUNED.

“BEWARE the ‘I’m-from-Dubai-and-need-gas-money’ scam”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Andrew Pasko-Reader

“Dear PoPville,

I was walking my dog on the 5800 block of Colorado Ave when a speeding car pulled over quickly to a stop near me. My spider senses tingled because you just don’t pull up to someone like that…unless you know the person or it’s a beat down. The car was a silver Maxima with NY license plates. There were four occupants inside: male driver (~30 years old), male passenger (~35 years old), two teen aged girls in the back. All looked to be of Middle Eastern descent. Here’s what went down.

MALE PASSENGER: Excuse me brother.
ME: [Silent]
MP: Assalam-alaikum brother. How are you?
ME: Hey.
MP: Please come here brother.
ME: [Hesitantly walk up to the car]
MP: Brother, I’m from Dubai where are you from? (more…)

Scam Alert: “he tells me that I need to pull over, my tire is about to fall off” Guy is Back

By Prince Of Petworth

scam alert
Photo by PoPville flickr user Ted Eytan

“Dear PoPville,

Just wanted to let you know this seems to be happening again. A guy in a beat up old van tried to get me to pull over twice, saying my tire was about to fall off. Luckily, I knew better and the tire was perfectly fine. This was on Massachusetts Ave NW near the Convention Center. Wondering if he targeted me because I had a clearly marked Enterprise Car Share and maybe he assumed I don’t drive a lot?”

“Caller ID indicates calls are from DC Courts, but they are not”

By Prince Of Petworth

scam alert
Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

From DC Courts:

“The DC Courts want to warn members of the public not to be taken-in by a telephone scam in which they get a voicemail asking them to call a 1-844 telephone number about money they owe on an outstanding court matter, and to push 5 to make payment and resolve the matter. What differentiates these calls from other scams is that the caller ID system has been manipulated and shows a DC Court-issued telephone number on the caller ID display. Please be advised that the District of Columbia Courts never solicit payments via telephone. All official court correspondence is processed through the U.S. Postal Service. The public is advised not to respond to these telephone calls.“

The $20 for Two $10s Guy is Back (Again)

By Prince Of Petworth

scammer
Photo by PoPville flickr user William E Heaton IV

His longevity is extraordinary. I’m starting to look forward to see what he comes up with when we finally go cashless once and for all… But as always, thanks to a reader for sending the heads up so you don’t get scammed if you are a kind soul and unfamiliar.

He’s at “Metro Center at the Forever 21 entrance” 1025 F Street, NW.

Scam Alert: “he tells me that I need to pull over, my tire is about to fall off”

By Prince Of Petworth

shady
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mark Andre

“Dear PoPville,

I recently had an experience that left me shaken. I posted this to my FB page and it seems that it’s happened to one other person, too, and perhaps even more who I may not be associated with in social media.

Below is that FB post:

So I’ve been debating if this information was relevant to share, but it’s left me a little shaken up so…here goes. (Consider it a PSA for single women who drive around by themselves)

On Sunday I was driving in DC – @ 11:30am. I was on Rhode Island Ave NE. A guy pulls up next to me an starts to frantically get my attention. I roll down my passenger side window and he tells me that I need to pull over, my tire is about to fall off, it’s really shaking. I immediately vier over into the right hand lane and pull into a BofA parking lot. The guy pulls off with me. He’s in a beat up red van and gets out. I get out, too. He proceeds to try and budge my tire. At this point I’m standing outside of my car on the passenger side. A second vehicle pulls up to my driver’s side – two guys in a truck. They seem to know each other. One starts to get out of the truck as the red van guy tries to get me to “get down on the ground” to see this “ball joint” that’s supposedly loose. I immediately circle my car, get back in, lock the doors and roll down the window to tell the red van guy that I’m going to head to friend’s place and call AAA, thanks. He get’s upset, rolls his eyes and tells me that I can’t drive with my wheel like this. The truck of two guys pulls off.

I take my car to VW yesterday and there’s NOTHING wrong with my car.

Just in case this ever happens, here are a few tips to know if you have a loose tire: (more…)

And in other Scam News the Two $10s for a $20 Guy is Back – Of Course

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The scam is alive and well at the 14th & W CVS. I just saw a man (older, slim, African-American, stooped over and pushing a walker) ask the cashier to exchange his $20 for two $10s “for a cab.” Then he turned around and almost immediately asked me (in line to check out) if I had a $20 for two $10s. When I got up to the cashier, I told her and her manager about the guy and the scam. They hadn’t heard of it before. Time for another PSA!”

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