West Seattle Crime Watch: Gatewood car prowls; scam phone calls

CAR PROWLS: A Gatewood resident tells us prowlers hit multiple cars overnight along SW Southern between 39th and 41st SW (map): “Thieves didn’t make off with much, but would love to know if anyone saw anything or has security camera footage.”

SCAM PHONE CALLS: You might have heard that one of the latest waves of scam phone calls is attempting to target BECU customers. These bogus calls are even being received by non-BECU customers – we got one, and so did a WSB reader who wanted to share this warning today:

Just received a scam call from 202 area code (DC) advising BECU Visa was locked, and directing entry of the 16 digit card number. Since I don’t have a BECU Visa, an obvious scam. I have heard of others referencing generic Visa, this is the first I have heard BECU mentioned.

BECU issued a fraud alert on its own website earlier this week, stressing that it has nothing to do with these calls and telling its customers what to do if they fell for it. This same type of scam has been done in the name of various banks and financial institutions – we featured one back in 2011 that fraudulently used Wells Fargo’s name. This is just another example of so-called “phishing”; here’s advice on preventing and fighting it.

Katenr April 10, 2015 (11:50 pm)

On another note, I got a call from someone saying they were calling from the IRS on “a sensitive” matter, and I needed to call back immediately. It was a 519 area code. The IRS does not do this. Please beware.

Eileen April 11, 2015 (9:00 am)

We’ve gotten the IRS call twice. They said we would be arrested “as soon as today” for owing money to the IRS and “god bless”

Eric April 11, 2015 (10:26 am)

I got this phone scam twice now from different numbers. It is an obvious scam with a generic statement about a MasterCard debit card being locked. It doesn’t even give a business or state BECU.

Hopefully the gullible and naive don’t fall for this

beware April 11, 2015 (11:27 am)

I just received a text that said:

(Message from BECU please Call: 877.600.6040)

When I called the number, an automated voice said “Hello, thank you for calling Boeing Employees Credit Union. We regret to inform you your debit master card has been locked. To reactivate it press 1, to leave press 2”.

When I pressed 1, it asks you to enter your 16 digit card number. I do not have a BECU account.

pilsner April 11, 2015 (12:59 pm)

Too bad there isn’t a generic card number that the authorities keep track of that you could give the scammers. To help catch them…. ‘n stuff.

DJ Allyn April 11, 2015 (1:17 pm)

Car prowler within two blocks of me? They are very lucky they never made it down MY alley.

ARB April 11, 2015 (3:03 pm)

Car prowlers broke into one of our cars this week in Gatewood on 40th as well. Nothing taken, but ticked that crime around this neighborhood seems to be increasing.