New phone scams hitting the Valley

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The next time you pick up the phone, be careful you don't become a victim. Law enforcement officials are warning of four new scams hitting the Wabash valley. Some victims have lost for more than $100,000.

Scammers are calling Valley homes telling people they have either won the lottery, won a new car or got the chance to buy cheap property in another state. All supposedly require money to pay fees or other taxes. They are all scams.

The fourth scam is even trickier.

Scammers are calling people who have been victimized by a scam and promise they can help you recover the money that you lost. Some scammers even claim to be an investigator from the police department. This too is a scam.

"The message is to make sure that the public is aware that this is going on," said Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt. "Make sure you are on the No Call list so you don't receive these solicitation calls."

You can register your phone number with the Indiana Do Not Call List on the Indiana Attorney General's website . Or you can call (888) 834-9969.

If you are contacted by someone you think is a scammer, contact your local law enforcement.

Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim:

1.) If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That's a red flag for detecting fraud.
2.) Don't be pressured into making a purchase. Hang up if the telemarketer does not give you enough time to take notes.
3.) Do not agree to purchase anything from a telemarketer unless he or she provides you with a written contract before the sale is finalized.
4.) Make notes on the date of the call, the name of the telemarketer, the name, address and telephone number of the company he or she works for and the company that the telemarketer is selling for.
5.) Never provide bank account, credit card account numbers or any other personal information unless you are sure the transaction is safe.
6.) Be wary of people who want you to pay with a check-by-phone or money wire transfer.
7.) If you have any doubts, or if the offer seems too good to be true, trust your instincts. Decline the offer and hang up immediately.