Leader Staff
Shawano police are warning residents to be on guard for several scams that have popped up in the area in the last few days.
On Monday morning, a male driving a silver crossover-type vehicle, with an unknown plate number, came to a Shawano resident claiming to be from the “water company,” Police Chief Mark Kohl said.
The man stated he was there for “service work in the basement.”
The homeowner didn’t allow him in, however, thinking it was odd that he didn’t have a company vehicle or uniform shirt, according to Kohl.
“Area repair and utility companies will have credentials and will be wearing a uniform,” Kohl said.
The man was described as white, in his late 30s or 40s, 6 feet tall with a slim build, clean-cut, brown hair and brown eyes, no glasses or facial hair, wearing a black Columbia zip-up jacket.
Kohl also reported that counterfeit $100 bills are showing up in the area. They might be a little harder to spot, but there are flaws to look out for.
“They are very good forgeries but don’t have the security thread, and the micro printing is either nonexistent or very dull,” Kohl said.
Meanwhile, another telephone scam is showing up, providing another variation on the adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it is, Kohl said.
In this particular con, people from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) call and tell you they are from a local church and have a deal for you to help your parishioners. You send them $1,000, and they’ll send you $50,000 in return to help needy parishioners, according to Kohl.
Kohl warned against falling for such pitches.
“Any program that asks for money and in return will send you more money is a fraud,” he said.