MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Hundreds of accidental calls have flooded Milwaukee dispatch centers as a result of a new finance-based phone scam.
Victims have received calls and text messages prompting them to dial 1 or 112 because their bank or credit card was deactivated or suspended. Once they do, they’re connected with a 911 dispatcher, the Journal Sentinel reports. http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/chief-edward-flynn-warns-of-text-scam-that-directs-people-to-911-b99245969z1-254914711.html
The issue started around 8 a.m. Friday. The Waukesha County Communications Center received about 150 calls by noon, but real emergencies were still able to get through.
Dispatchers at the Milwaukee County sheriff’s office also received similar calls.
“Obviously if this happens too much, it’s going to delay our response to genuine emergencies,” Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn told the newspaper.
The motive behind the scam is unclear.
“We’re in the process of trying to understand if someone is trying to take down the 911 system, or if somebody has a scam that somehow enriches them by having you call our number.” Flynn said. “Or if it’s a scam that’s gone awry technologically.
AT&T and the FBI are investigating the scam, which is believed to be affecting mobile customers across southeast Wisconsin.
Flynn said it does not appear to be a national problem.