Conn. police issue phone scam warning

West Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - Police have issued a scam warning after a West Hartford woman received threatening phone calls.

The caller told the woman she'd be arrested for fraud if she didn't fork over her personal information.

According to the police someone called and wanted all her personal information, from credit card numbers to her social security number. The caller stated she had an outstanding balance on a loan she didn’t open.

"He was being so adamant. ‘People are going to come to your job tomorrow. ‘They are going to talk to your employers and arrest you. You are going in for federal charges and pay bail,’” Kathleen Barton told News 8.

She was so upset she went to her office to fax some of the information to the person on the phone, but a cooler head prevailed and when he called back she started to ask questions.

"So he asked you to fax all of your personal information."

“And I asked him for the loan number and he said he couldn't tell me and I asked for how much the loan was for," she continued. "He said he couldn't tell me."

Kathleen Barton called police and they traced the phone numbers.

"The two numbers that these individuals used -- one is out of Syracuse, New York and the other is out of Auburn, New York," Sergeant Roger Brancoforte stated. "The case at this point is still in its infancy."

Police say they do have several good leads in the case, but they wanted to make sure no one falls prey to the scam. That is why the public is being alerted.

It’s something 93-year-old Jo Smith of West Hartford knows all about.

"There is one that keeps calling me -- International Services -- and I don't answer and they don't leave a message,” she said.

News 8’s Bob Wilson: “So this is always running through your mind?”
Jo Smith: “All the time."

Police say if you get a call that you think is a scam they want you to call them.