Two new scams reported in the Wichita area in past week

Two new scams circulated in the Wichita area last week.

One individual received a call claiming he had pending felony charges and lawsuits in court.

Another consumer reported a scammer called claiming the consumer had won a free cruise.

In both cases, the scammers ask for money to avoid going to court or to redeem the cruise.

The Sedgwick County Consumer Protection Division collects scam reports for the District Attorney’s Office. From Oct. 8 through Oct. 14, the Consumer Protection Division received 37 complaints. Here’s a breakdown of recurring scams:

9 – IRS scams: A scammer calls and claims the individual owes money to the IRS. Advice: The IRS typically does not contact consumers by telephone.

1 – Lottery scam: The scammer claims you won a sum of money but instructs you to pay a fee, buy something or deposit a portion of the money back. Advice: Don’t pay money to get money.

2 – Past debt scam: The scammer poses as a debt collector. Advice: Call the lender or debt collector directly using the number listed on your bill.

1 – Computer scam: A consumer reported someone tried to gain access to their computer by posing as a computer company representative and charged money for virus removal. Advice: Don’t give out personal information, payment or access to your computer if you did not initiate the interaction.

If you think you might be the victim of a scam, call the Consumer Protection Division at 316-660-3653.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Two new scams reported in the Wichita area in past week."