Olympia and Lacey residents have reported suspicious phone calls from an alleged business trying to collect credit card numbers and personal identification numbers—allegedly, for verification purposes. The unknown caller identifies Evergreen as the business name.
Better Business Bureau warns consumers not to respond; this is a caller ID fraud scam.
Calls appear to be coming from 502-568-8884. However, the caller has spoofed the number on the caller ID to match a phone number that belongs to an unaffiliated Kentucky-based business: The Zoppoth Law Firm, a BBB Accredited Business.
BBB is still investigating the origin of the unidentified caller.
BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington advises residents to steer clear of anonymous requests for personal information:
1. Be wary of requests to "verify" information, especially if the caller is claiming affiliation with a well-known business or government agency.
2. Never give out credit card information or Social Security numbers to unknown or unsolicited requests.
3. If interested in making a purchase over the phone, verify authenticity first. Request the caller's name, company name, address, and phone number; inform them that you will contact them if interested. If the representative refuses to give out basic company information, don't bother.
- Research the company name on the Internet. Be skeptical if negative results show up; make sure the company information provided matches with what's posted online. Check on www.bbb.org for a BBB Reliability Report.
- Contact the company using contact information found on their official website or in a public directory—do not rely on the information the caller provided.
- When contacting the company, confirm that the call received was legitimate; verify that the solicitor is a valid employee and that the call actually came from the company. BBB recommends getting written materials or agreements before making purchases over the phone.
Visit www.bbb.orgfor more tips on avoiding scams.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses. The BBB's mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, 907-562-0704 in Alaska, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.
