Bethel Park police warn residents of increasing number of fraud calls
Bethel Park police received several reports of suspicious telephone calls seeking personal information, such as social security numbers. Some of the callers identified themselves as representatives of a power company with no specific company name being given.
Police Lt. Lance Mattes said there were at least five separate reports with three similar calls occurring the afternoon of Oct. 15.
Usually, the caller identification lists a 1-866 number. One such call was received by a business on McMurray Road at 3:03 p.m. Oct. 11.
A few callers asked recipients to obtain gift cards and to return the call to supply card numbers. Only one resident actually bought a gift card and relinquished the number, Mattes said. Another, he said, supplied the caller with a social security number.
Police urge residents not to divulge any personal information to unknown callers. If such a call is received, Mattes asks residents to immediately call police at 412-833-2000.