SALINAS, Calif.- A record breaking week for FedEx is underway as 19 million packages were set to be shipped out. But here on the Central Coast local police and FedEx said there's a scam you need to know about. Now, according to FedEx, you need to keep your guard up. We found out how scammers are reeling victims in during the holiday season.
It all starts with a phone call. You pick up the phone and the person on the other end says they are with FedEx and they have a package waiting for you.
"If they get a few that bite on the enticing proposal, that's good for them," said Salinas Police Officer Miguel Cabrera.
But Officer Cabrera said it's actually more of a threat. That's because the scammer tells the victim, if they don't pay up..."that they're going to notify the police and that the police can actually detain the person not paying for 48 hours," Officer Cabrera said.
And that's a lie. Officer Cabrera said the scammer gives the victim an account number to a local bank to pay the fee and the information changes every time.
"It's a difficult type of crime to catch the suspects on," Officer Cabrera said.
FedEx said it doesn't make any random phone calls to track package. Now customers are on alert.
"Get numbers and ask questions and not necessarily take whatever they say over the phone," said customer Gary Ricupero.
Officer Cabrera said so far one person was scammed for $225 and several others have gotten the call from a fake New York company called Soluciones Legales. Officer Cabrera said the money is sucked out of the account immediately.
"And everyday that goes by and the package is unable to be delivered, the fee is going to increase," Officer Cabrera said.
The typical target is people who primarily speak Spanish. Officer Cabrera said the scammer will start talking in English and switch to Spanish if need be.
"They are not specifying what allegedly is in the package. You know I think they are just leaving it to the responders' imagination," Officer Cabrera said.
If you're not sure if you have a FedEx package coming and want to check, call 1-800-Go-FedEx.
