The Atlantic Police Department reports a telephone scam is going around the area, from someone who claims to be from the “Clerk’s Office,” and is trying to collect for a bad check.  Chief Dave Erickson says the clerk’s office does not make calls to collect bad debt. One local woman told police she received the call for her daughter, and that they had to try and serve her last night, but were unable to. The caller said the matter needed to be taken care of quickly. Erickson said the caller knew personal information, including the last four-digits of her Social Security Number (SSN).

As the woman spoke with the caller, she was even transferred to a so-called lawyer by the name of “Don Harris.” The daughter then called them back and gave them her card number to handle the matter. It wasn’t until they put the number into a computer, that they learned the call was a scam. Erickson warns, if you have elderly family members, be sure and tell them not to give out any bank, credit card or personal information.

Erickson said there were numerous instances where people across the country have received similar calls, with the “lawyer” threatening arrest about a stolen check passed at an office supply store. The phone numbers potential victims of the scam received, varied from call to call.