Individual falls victim to phone scam originating outside U.S., police say

Mountain Brook residents who recently fell victim to a phone scam requesting money have since received multiple unwanted phone calls, police report.

Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 9, a victim from the 4000 block of Old Leeds Lane received the harassing phone calls after sending money.

Another victim from the 4100 block of Old Leeds Lane also sent money between Jan. 1 and Jan. 3 in order to receive prizes, according to police. He has also since received threatening and harassing calls for him to send more money.

Through initial investigation, police report both of the harassment cases originated outside the U.S.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Mountain Brook police in the weekly community update. “Call us before sending money. Typically any money sent quickly leaves the U.S., and there is little hope of recovering it or prosecuting those responsible.”

Police also reported two property thefts in the community update.

Golf clubs were reported stolen from the front of a house in the 2200 block of Cahaba Road between Jan. 4 and Jan. 5. The other theft occurred in the 10 block of Office Park Circle. In this instance, an employee reportedly stole money from a business sometime between March 1, 2012 and Jan. 15, 2015.

A fire was set at a construction site in the 40 block of Church Street on Jan. 11. The fire caused damage, and police reported the instance as arson.

An individual in the 2500 block of Cherokee Road was victim to identity theft, and his credit card number was used to make purchases between Jan. 3 and Jan. 10.

Multiple identity thefts have been reported in recent weeks, and police will hold a brief course on preventing and dealing with identity theft on Feb. 2 and Feb. 18. The course will be at the Mountain Brook Board of Education building at 6 p.m.