Nebraska woman reminds red flag warnings when rental car scam targets grieving relative

FREMONT, Neb. (WOWT) – A 6 Information investigation alerts us to a rip-off that focused a senior citizen grieving the lack of a liked one.

The con artists used an web search software and a authentic firm identify to trick the sufferer.

A coronary heart situation took her 41-year-old daughter and after the funeral, Kathy Fender found a monetary loss added to the household’s heartache.

“And it’s simply upsetting that I misplaced my daughter and on high of it, my mother obtained scammed,” mentioned Fender.

Kathy’s 80-year-old mom got here from North Carolina and whereas right here she needed to go to mates.

“And go to Google and go like this to lease a automobile. Take a look at these footage,” mentioned Fender.

Kathy says her mom referred to as the primary quantity that popped up.

“We’re Enterprise sir,” mentioned the alleged scammer.

A response one other household heard final 12 months when instructed to make use of money playing cards for fee.

“Simply get the cardboard and cargo the quantity that that you must pay, and we will full the reservation,” mentioned the alleged scammer.

The identical instruction is given to Kathy’s mother.

“And get a present card and he or she obtained a $600 present card, and he or she gave it to them and so they left her with 10 cents on it and he or she got here out with no automobile,” mentioned Fender.

The Higher Enterprise Bureau has different stories of the identical scheme.

“So the unhealthy actors they purchase advert phrases to get the very best rankings when individuals do searches and the consequence to shoppers is that they might not be coping with who they suppose they’re coping with,” mentioned Jim Hegarty, Higher Enterprise Bureau.

Enterprise says their automobile rental representatives won’t ask a buyer for fee info or bank card numbers over the cellphone. enterprise solely accepts pay as you go present playing cards on the finish of the rental.

She thought she was calling Enterprise however what was the crimson flag? The present card. They needed her to pay with a present or money card.

Kathy says her late daughter liked gardening and in her reminiscence, she’s planting a seed of suspicion for any automobile rental provide that calls for a money card fee upfront.

“She could be very upset if she came upon right here grandma obtained scammed,” mentioned Fender.

Enterprise tells 6 Information there’s been a drop in these stories however the firm is continuous to observe phony rental automobile provides.

The Enterprise web site has a client alert for indicators of potential fraud.

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