Police Beat: Phone Fraud for Fake Bail Bonds, Drug Possessions

One critical crime that Eureka Police Department officers would like to highlight in this week's report—before it happens to more people—is that local residents were the victim of phone-based fraud that occurred when they were contacted Sunday and asked to provide bail money for a friend.

Lt. David Wilson said the victims were told the friend had been arrested and needed to post a bail bond.

"They were instructed to wire the funding through a MoneyGram, which they did at , and first were asked to provide $500.  They were called several more times, asking for more money each time," he said. "When the amount got to $4,000, the local residents grew suspicious and contacted the company that the bondsman supposedly represented.  That's when they found out this person who had called did not work for the specified company."

Wilson said this same type of phone fraud occurred several months ago, as well.  He recommends that no one supply bail money without first checking the source requesting it.

"No one typically should be receiving an unsolicited call from someone posing as a bondsman; more than likely, you will receive the call from the family member or friend directly, if they need financial assistance," he said.

Wilson said bona fide bondsmen usually want to meet in-person and have people sign formal paperwork.  He said even when dealing with a licensed, out of town bonds' company, the paperwork can be overnighted so that those providing the funding can review it ahead of time.

"People calling like this are worth being suspicious about," he said.

Wilson said they have not identified a suspect in this case yet, but have requested assistance from FBI investigators.  They did track down the phone numbers involved to a California city.

Regarding other crimes reported from Eureka:

Jan. 6:  Cars on Colts Foot Street were broken into and a global positioning system was stolen. 

Jan. 6:  A juvenile was arrested as a suspect in stealing from cars; police recovered two global positioning systems, a Sony Walkman, and a Nintendo game charger.

Jan. 16:  Police received a report that cats were being thrown out of a vehicle on Interstate 44, near Eureka.  Police recovered the bodies of two dead cats at the location.  Missouri Highway Patrol officers also were called about the incident, but witnesses were unable to provide license plates of the car from which the crime happened.

Regarding crimes reported from Wildwood:

Jan. 9:  The sun roof of a General Motors Corp. Suburban truck was shattered at the 1600 block of Englebrook Court.

Jan. 13:  The driver of a two-car accident near Strucker and Shepard streets reported an injured wrist.

Jan. 14:  The driver of a car involved in an accident at the intersection of Missouri Route 109 and Etherton left the scene of the accident, after attempting to make a right-hand turn onto Route 109 and failing to stop.

Jan. 15:  A male was suspected of driving while intoxicated near the area of Missouri Route 109 and Woods Street, pulled over, and found to be in possession of drugs.

Jan. 15:  A male was suspected of DWI near the area of Fullerton Meadows and Peaceful Court, and was arrested.

Jan. 17:  Two 19-year-olds at the 1600 block of Hickory Pine Lane were found to be in possession of alcohol.

Jan. 17:  Three trespassers were issued summons for being found at Zombie Road, otherwise and officially known as Rock Hollow Trail, past the city's curfew.