Lone Tree Voice December 21, 2023

Page 1

WEEK OF DECEMBER 21, 2023

VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 42

FREE

Castle Rock man scammed out of $17,500

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Officials warn of sophisticated technology BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After a day and a half of being threatened with arrest unless he transferred thousands of dollars, Brian Orr was out of money and believed he was going to jail. It was only after Orr sent $17,500 and as he was sitting in the parking lot of the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office that the alleged deputy on the other end revealed the scam. “Right when I was ready to give up he says ‘alright Brian, how’d we do, one out of ten or ten out of ten’ and I knew right then,” Orr said. On Nov. 29, Orr received a call from a local phone number and the caller claimed to be a Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office deputy. Orr said he was lulled into a false sense of security because the scammer took steps to seem legitimate and knew several details about him. The caller referenced Orr’s loan information from the Personal Paycheck Protection program, as well as his address, veteran status and social security number. They told Orr he needed to transfer money because of an issue with Orr’s PPP loan or else he’d have a warrant out for his arrest and face jail time. “He had a stern professionalism,” Orr said. “All my safeties were off because I was focused on staying out of jail.” The caller said the money served as a “pre-emptive” bond for Orr and would be refunded to him once the issue with his loan was sorted. Orr sent an initial payment of $3,000, but the scammer called back saying it wasn’t enough and Orr needed to send more. “I was filled with terror and panic, on the edge of tears for most of the time I Brian Orr poses with his son at Red Rocks. Orr was scammed out of $17,500 when was on the phone,” he said. Thinking back, Orr said he wishes he someone impersonated a Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office deputy and called him seeking money. Orr hopes to warn others not to fall for the fraud.

COURTESY BRIAN ORR

FIRST MEETING

New water commission gets started P2

PARENT ENGAGEMENT School board reviews policy

P4

GINGERBREAD HOUSE Decorations gain national attention P10

SEE SCAMMED, P22

VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19

LONETREEVOICE.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA


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