Trap Cards Cause Panic. This Time In Ohio

The Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland issued a warning about the latest scam that appears to be popping up across the region.

It’s a scam the Marblehead chief of police issued a warning about last week after one of his officers encountered it.

Chief Kenn Thelmann told FOX 8 he began researching and discovered the scam was in the Cleveland area and had been in Toledo a few years ago.

The scam includes door hangers that are fluorescent colored and have an urgent warning to call a private investigator at an 866 number about an investigation they’re conducting.

The belief is this may be repossession companies trying to get personal information.

“They’re just trying to scare the people. They’re not giving them time to investigate it,” Thelmann said. “If you get it, one of these things stuck on your door, do not call it. Call your local police department first. See if they know anything about it.”

The BBB also said not to call the number, and, as always, don’t call or give out any personal information until you’ve verified a request is legit, especially if there is an urgency to the request.

“That’s how they get your attention. They get you nervous and uncomfortable, and ‘oh my gosh, I better react. I better do something,’ but if you could just take a breath, walk back, do a little research, ask a few questions and don’t call,” Ericka Dilworth said.

Dilworth is the vice president of operations for the BBB Serving Greater Cleveland.

She said a quick Google search related to these door hangers will show that an Ohio Revised Code listed on them does not exist.

“You know, scammers know how to get your attention, and scammers know how to put fear in you. And so, absolutely. They want you to act on emotion and not think it through,” she said.