Johnson sheriff warns of telemarketing scam

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to be wary of strange telephone calls as several telemarketing scams have been reported in the area.

Residents in Johnson County have been receiving phone calls with a computerized voice that says that "the offer to lower interest rate is almost over," according to a press release. It then directs the individual to press 1 if  they want to lower their interest rate.

If the person receiving the call presses 1, personal and financial information issought  by using trickery or malicious software, the Sheriff's Office said. The information can then be used to commit financial crimes and identity theft.

A second scam involves callers pretending to be bank examiners wanting to do an employee audit or teller test. The caller asks individuals to draw money out of a bank account and to not tell anyone what they are doing, the Sheriff's Office said. 

The caller tells  the individual to deliver the money to a person who represents the bank, but not at the bank.

In another  continuing scam,  people are told that a grandchild or loved one is in jail and needs bond.  The caller asks the citizens to not to contact other family members. 

It is not known whether anyone in the area has been tricked by the scams. A majority of the calls reported as having been received are from outside of the Iowa City area, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said.

"Many people just simply hang up which is a good thing to do," Pulkrabek said.

The Sheriff's Office wants to remind everyone there are many scams out there and to  call local law enforcement or family members prior to sending any money, or doing something that seems out of the ordinary.

The Sheriff's Office recommends that area residents not share any personal information or credit card information with unsolicited callers on the telephone or through the Internet.