The Attorney General’s Office is warning of a scam targeting potential clients of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. The Attorney General’s Office was notified by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri yesterday of a scam letter received by a client purporting to be from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri seeking a “retainer fee” of $3500. Legal […]
The Missouri Secretary of State is reminding Missourians that the Business Services Division in his office will never ask for payment by a gift card. Business Services, which oversees filings for all businesses in Missouri, has recently received complaints from some Missourians who have misdialed the toll-free number and been asked to pay for services […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that, through joint efforts with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Meagher, proprietor of “Metro Restoration,” has been arrested on account of consumer fraud charges filed by the Missouri Attorney General in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in December 2019. Meagher has been extradited to Missouri to stand trial […]
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports his office investigated a social media incident in which a local resident’s account was hacked, and information was sent to others about getting money for acknowledging a message. Another resident was scammed out of $200 from the activity, as money was transferred online. Cox says the local resident whose […]
The Missouri Attorney General’s office has filed charges in Jackson and Clay Counties against Kristofer Bain, 40, for allegedly defrauding consumers in connection with his business, Telos Contracting LLC. According to the allegations, Bain promised to renovate a consumer’s home in Jackson County in exchange for large advance payments. After taking several payments from the […]
The Missouri Securities Division ordered BrendaLeeTrades.com and any individuals running the site to cease and desist after allegedly using the name of a St. Louis-based financial adviser to lure investors into cryptocurrency transactions. On April 23, the division received notification that an unknown individual or individuals allegedly utilized the name of a registered investment adviser […]
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that Donald L. White, 41, of Festus, has been charged with additional felony counts in Jefferson County relating to allegations of contractor fraud and theft. The Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case in conjunction with the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office previously filed […]
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has obtained and executed a consent judgment against Missouri Fence Company Springfield, LLC, and its owner Justin P. Schmidt. The lawsuit, previously filed by the Attorney General’s Office, alleged that Schmidt, through Missouri Fence Company, solicited upfront deposits from customers on the pretense that Schmidt would […]
The Chillicothe Police Department has been receiving numerous calls of fraud/scam calls to the elderly, and unfortunately, some have fallen victim to the scams. The Police Department is attempting to provide information to the public in an effort for residents to protect themselves. The following are some common schemes: Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic […]
A Washington man pleaded guilty to defrauding Tyson Foods Inc. (Tyson) and another company (Company 1) out of more than $244 million by charging them under various agreements for the purported costs of purchasing and feeding hundreds of thousands of cattle that did not actually exist. According to court documents, Cody Allen Easterday, 49, of […]
Chillicothe Assistant Police Chief Rick Sampsel reports the department received a call on Saturday afternoon from a person reporting an attempted scam. The call involved a telephone call claiming arrest warrants and a need to buy gift cards to take care of them. Sampsel emphasized the public should not provide information to such callers, and […]
The Department of Justice has received reports that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency (SWA) websites, for the purpose of unlawfully capturing consumers’ personal information. To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing a link. […]
The Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Teresa Moore is warning the public of scam calls claiming to be from the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Jefferson City. The office reports several Missouri residents have received the calls. In some cases, the caller claimed to be with Cyber Crimes […]
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a widespread fraud scheme in which telephone scammers impersonate DEA agents in an attempt to extort money or steal personal identifiable information. A new public service announcement aims to raise awareness that DEA will never phone demanding money or asking for personal information. There are variations […]
Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against Jason Soetebier and Soetebier Contracting LLC of Jefferson County, Missouri. The suit alleges that Soetebier agreed to complete interior and exterior construction projects for various customers in exchange for full or partial upfront payments. In each instance, Soetebier failed to start […]
The Trenton Police Department has shared ways to recognize and avoid Publishers Clearing House scams. Publishers Clearing House does not email or call its big winners. Someone will never have to pay to receive a legitimate win. A check does not mean someone has won. The Trenton Police advise residents not to provide confidential information […]
Scammers are targeting some Missourians trying to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Larry Jones, executive director of the Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence, says criminals are pretending to be from a local health department or another organization to get ahold of personal information. Jones says some of the websites the scammers are using look […]
The Trenton Police Department has released tips for avoiding scams. It provides four signs to tell something is a scam. The first sign is that scammers pretend to be from an organization you know or claim to contact you on behalf of the government. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, […]
The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments. For more than half a year, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information […]
The Chillicothe Police Department reminds the public about scammers calling claiming they are from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or a banking institution or saying someone has won a sweepstake. Residents are advised to not provide these callers with any personal or banking information and hang up. Assistant Police Chief Rick Sampsel says these institutions […]
