UPDATE with updated warning from ISP: ISP issues warning about ongoing "Child Safety Kit" Facebook scam
/UPDATE: Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post issued an update this morning concerning their warning about a “Child Safety Kit” scam on Facebook.
WARNING: Since ISP-Fort Wayne first posted this Child Safety Kit Scam Alert last week (see original release content below), the Fort Wayne Post has received two more complaints of this active scam here in Fort Wayne. Facebook consumers are warned NOT to provide any personal information to the associated #ChildSafetyKit Facebook link.
The latest complaints have advised that *after providing the requested personal information to the link, a follow-up phone call from an unknown phone number was received. An unidentified female scheduled an in home visit to go over the services offered. Two unidentified well dressed adult males showed up to the complainant's house, and then attempted to sell an "insurance policy" as part of the Child Safety Kit service.
These scammers are trying to gain your trust and confidence by falsely claiming to be associated with the Indiana State Police, and that is a lie. They want access to your personal identity and financial information, and to gain voluntary entry into your home- possibly with the intent to commit further crime. -DO NOT ALLOW THESE SCAMMERS INTO YOUR HOME!
Again, the Indiana State Police is warning Hoosiers to always take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, your family, and your property:
Always beware of any online solicitations requesting personal information.
Always protect your identity, social security number, credit card and bank account information.
Never provide any personal information to unknown online source, including your name/address/phone number.
Never allow strangers access into your home.
If you have been threatened or victimized by this scam, especially if you have allowed these individuals access into your home, please report this activity to either your local law enforcement agency or your nearest Indiana State Police Post.
Story posted last week on GreeneStreets:
ISP issues warning about ongoing "Child Safety Kit" Facebook scam
Ft. Wayne, Ind. - The Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post recently received a complaint from a local resident advising of what appears to be an ongoing scam solicited via Facebook. This scam involves the offering of a “Child Safety Kit” by clicking on a link provided in the Facebook post.
Our local resident stated that the provided link to receive the “Child Safety Kit” asks the requestor to submit personal information, to include: name, address, and phone number, information which is then followed up by a phone call wherein the scammer requests to set up an in-home visit to further the transaction.
She reports having received two phone calls from two very persistent males requesting to come to her home and be allowed to load an App onto her phone as part of their “Child Safety Kit” service. She stated the callers were very persistent on setting up an appointment, and they falsely claimed they work directly with the Indiana State Police. She was never provided with name or a company name.
This scam has apparently been ongoing for quite some time, and was even reported on by the Louisville based WDRB news channel back in December 2019, wherein an Evansville, Indiana women was victimized (follow the link below for their full reporting).
The Indiana State Police would remind all Hoosiers that scam artists are pervasive across the internet and all social media platforms. Scammer’s methods and tactics are primarily intrusive to your personal and financial information, but as noted in this instance, they may often resort to invading your personal space as well. Luckily this resident was on the alert and did not fall prey to these scammers tactics.
This complaint reported to the State Police is full of red flags, and luckily this local resident did not fall prey to these scammers tactics. You can protect yourself by:
ALWAYS consider any unsolicited internet/social media transaction with a “Buyer Beware”
NEVER provided personal or financial information to an unknown source, whether it be on the internet, by email, or by phone.
NEVER invite or allow a stranger into your home, especially an unsolicited sales person- thieves commonly use this as a way to case your home for future burglary.
Don’t be INTIMIDATED by a scammer’s pervasiveness. Delete the internet conversation or just hang up the phone when something doesn’t feel right.
If you feel you have been victimized by a scammer, suspicious or threatening activity should be reported to your local law enforcement immediately.
