Police are warning about new cell phone scam - and this one's not an urban legend - Chicago

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
1/3/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Kids stealing cell phones in Chicago area.

Police are warning Chicago residents of a new cell-phone scam that's leaving people without their phones. Although the operation is not particularly sophisticated, a string of robberies has police on the lookout.

Expensive cell phones are likely targets, however any phone is subject to theft.

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CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - It reads like an urban legend, however police insist the crime is real. A group of three or four males, aged 14-25, have been working together to steal cell phones.

The scam reportedly works in two ways. In the first, a scammer finds a victim who has left their cell phone at the edge of a table. The scammer approaches the victim and places a flier on the table, soliciting donations for a youth basketball team.

While soliciting, the scammer picks up the phone under the flyer and exits the restaurant.

In the second version of the scam, one person simply asks a waiter for a glass of water and while staff are distracted, they snatch a vulnerable phone and run. Not particularly sophisticated.

The scammers have been seen getting into a tan sedan.

Police ask victims not to pursue the robbers, but simply to call 911.

Meanwhile, watch where you leave your phone!

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
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Keywords: cell phone scam, theft, Chicago

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1 - 2 of 2 Comments

yvonne
4 months ago
Another type of scam people should be aware of is the home alarm system scam. From the complaints I read at CALLERCENTER, scammers call and tell the victim about winning a free home alarm kit. The victim is then asked to deactivate his current system system which would enable these scammers to rob the victim's house.

Beware of such a scheme.
William
4 months ago
Here's another version of scam: You click on a link which appears on your browser.
Then you get a message saying that you've won a travel for 4 persons.
For receiving your prize they tell you that you have to pay them a 'small' fee or something first to claim the prize. For more information visit http://www.tellows.co.nz/num/092804742

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