There have been two scams recently reported to us this week we would like the community to be aware of.  The first scam involves a fictitious assassination plot.  It has been reported that citizens have been receiving the below text message recently.  While it is farfetched, and we hope you would contact police before giving money to an “assassin”, we certainly see how getting this text message could cause concern.  If you receive this message do not respond to it.

"LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN CONTACT YOU, MY TEAM HAS BEEN PAID TO ASSASINATE YOU, I HAVE EVERY REASON TO CARRY OUT THE CONTRACT, BUT I DECIDED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND SAVE YOUR FAMILY THIS PAIN, THIS YOUR ALTERNATIVE, I WISH TO HELP YOU UNLESS YOU DONT WANT TO HELP YOUR SELF, I WILL SEND YOU ENOUGH EVIDENCE YOU NEED ON A VIDEO TAPE RECORD TO NAIL MY EMPLOYER DOWN WITH THE LAW.  BEFORE THAT YOUR REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE SUM OF $2,000. USD AFTER WHICH I WILL DIRECT YOU ON WHAT TO DO NEXT TO SAVE YOUR SELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THIS PAIN THAT WOULD HAVE BEFALLED YOU FROM MY EMPLOYER,THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO SETTLE THE TEAM MEN INVOLVED TO GO BACK TO THERE DESTINATIONS AND YOU BETTER KEEP THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR SELF BECAUSE YOU DONT KNOW WHO IS WHO WHERE YOU ARE NOW,IF HE FINDS OUT I HAVE BETRAYED HIM TRYING TO HELP YOU,YOU WILL HAVE YOUR SELF TO BLAME, I HAVE ORDERED MY MEN TO STAU AWAY FROM YOU. NOTE: YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS HERE, (1) YOU HAVE TO GET HIM ARRESTED WITH THE INFORMATION I WILL GIVE YOU AFTER THE PAYMENT OR (2) YOU HAVE HIM KILLED TO SAVE YOUR SELF. I WILL VISIT YOUR HOUSE AGAIN BUT NOT NOW. MY BOYS EYES ARE ON YOU SO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  DO WE HAVE A DEAL OR NOT??  I NEED YOUR REPLY URGENTLY TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT!!!"

The second scam involves a subject trying to collect donations for a local college.  A local business has reported receiving several phone calls from a subject claiming to be from the University of Dubuque.  The subject claims he is fundraising for the University and asks for donations but couldn’t answer any follow up questions asked by the employee who took the calls.  The caller is a male, he did not talk with an accent, and the number couldn’t be traced.  The University of Dubuque was contacted by the business and verified they had no such employee collecting donations and they quickly contacted police to report the scam.  UD advises citizens can call (563) 589-3668 to verify legitimate fundraising activities.

If you have any information on this incident or others, please call the Dubuque Police Department at 563-589-4415 or Crime Stoppers at 800-747-0117 or 563-588-0714 (if the information leads to an arrest, the caller is eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000). You can also submit tips anonymously online at www.cityofdubuque.org/police or through the MyDBQ smartphone app available at www.cityofdubuque.org/MyDBQ.

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