CLEVELAND – The Cuyahoga County Scam Squad has a new phone number: 216-443-SCAM (7226).

“Creating a dedicated line for consumers reassures people who are already upset that they’ve reached the right place,” said Sheryl Harris, Director of the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs. “Even if one of our investigators isn’t available, callers get a message reminding them that if someone’s demanding they pay with a money wire or gift card, it’s likely a scam.”

Scam Squad is a project-driven senior financial fraud task force made up of local, state and federal consumer, law enforcement and social service agencies in Cuyahoga County.

Scam Squad’s goals are to:

• Encourage Cuyahoga County seniors to report scams

• Ensure scam reports are referred to the agency best suited to investigate

• Educate county residents about how to spot and avoid scams 

Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs acts as a clearinghouse for the task force, and, originally, residents were encouraged to call the Department’s main line, 216-443-7035, to report or get information about scams. “We think 443-SCAM is so much easier to remember,” Harris said.

Scam Squad members include the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the IRS, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, the Cleveland Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services, the Cleveland Department of Aging, the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, the Cleveland Office of Fair Housing and Consumer Affairs, the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, the County Treasurer’s Office, the Cleveland Office of Community Affairs, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Benjamin Rose Institute, ESOP, Neighborhood Housing Services, the Better Business Bureau, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, United Way 2-1-1, AARP, Apprisen, Cleveland Housing Network, Cuyahoga County Public Safety, Cuyahoga County Law Department, the FBI, HRRC, Lakewood Human Services, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and ProSeniors.

Organizations interested in joining Scam Squad should contact the county Department of Consumer Affairs at 216-443-7035.