Police agencies along the Wasatch Front are warning Utahns about a phone scam that could result in a huge, unwanted charge on their next phone bill.
Spanish Fork Police said residents have been receiving calls from the number 473-520-9774 and other 473 area code numbers. They said the caller is moaning and claiming to be in distress, but it's all a scam call from Grenada.
Officers said if you receive a call from the number, don't answer and don't call back. If you do call back, you'll be charged with a large connection fee.
"If it's someone who wants to talk to you or get information to you, they're going to leave a voicemail," Sandy Police Sgt. John Arnold said. "If you don't recognize the number, or if it's not someone you're familiar with... let those numbers go to voicemail."
Police said it's important for parents to warn children about not answering or calling back numbers they don't know or recognize.
The Utah Department of Public Safety released this statement regarding the scam:
The Utah Department of Public Safety Cyber Crimes Unit and the Statewide Information and Analysis Center (SIAC) are working with the FBI and other Utah Law Enforcement agencies to provide any additional information that may safeguard the people of Utah.
First and foremost, we ask people to block all calls from area code 473 (Granada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique) Do not answer…as this is an aggressive scam targeting Utah phone numbers. If you answer this call, you may hear someone in distress, they will then hang up. They expect that you will call back, they will then capture confidential information from your phone that can result in thousands of dollars being charged to phone accounts just by answering or calling back.
THIS IS A SCAM…BE AWARE.
For those who are unable block calls on their phones we ask that you contact your phone service provider to get assistance.
“Utah DPS personnel are aggressively working to minimize the impact of this scam for Utah citizens who may be targeted” says Keith Squires Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety.
