Scammer Rips Off Westlake Woman Via Facebook: Police

Westlake OH

13 September, 2021

9:12 AM

Description

WESTLAKE, OH — A Westlake resident was ripped off in a Facebook scam last week. On Tuesday, the resident contacted police and explained what happened. She was on Facebook when someone claiming to be a relative contacted her via Messenger. The relative said the Westlake resident had recently won a charity giveaway, police said. The catch? The resident had to send cash to pay for the incidentals before she could receive her payout. The resident sent the cash and then realized she was likely being scammed. Westlake police are now investigating the scammers. The Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs keeps a list of common scams targeting Northeast Ohioans. There are also strategies for recovering after losing money in a con. If you make a payment, for example, in a scam and you realize it quickly, you should try to freeze the payment through your bank, the department said. If you mailed a check, you can contact the U.S. Post Office at 1-877-876-2455, press Option 2 and report the scam and request a parcel intercept.