SEQUIM — Two Sequim businesses were recently the targets of an apparent phone scam when a caller demanded numbers on prepaid credit cards or gift cards in exchange for not bombing the stores, city police said Monday.
Bomb threats were reported Sunday at 2:05 p.m. and 2:08 p.m., respectively, at the Sequim Rite Aid, 520 W. Washington St., and Sequim Safeway, 680 W. Washington St.
No bombs were found at either location.
The FBI is investigating, police said.
“It clearly appears to be a scam,” said Sheri Crain, Sequim deputy chief of police.
“There was no indication that anyone was harmed whatsoever. We were there to assist them.”
Both stores were evacuated briefly after a caller phoned staff demanding credit card numbers.
Crain said she did not know where the call originated.
“We have every reason to believe they’re not even in this state,” Crain said.
The recent calls were similar to a September bomb scare at the Sequim Home Depot in which a caller demanded gift card codes in exchange for not blowing up the store.
No bomb was found at the home improvement store at 1145 W. Washington St. after a 35-minute sweep Sept. 17.
“They try to talk you out of something,” Crain said of the callers’ pattern.
“They’re very easy to see through. They’re very transparent.”
Similar calls have been received in other jurisdictions outside the North Olympic Peninsula, she added.
“This is certainly a new one for us,” Crain said.
“The FBI has heard of it in other areas of the country.”
In Port Angeles, at least a half-dozen business reported a different type of phone scam Dec. 16.
City utility staff said callers pretending to be affiliated with the city demanded money for supposed past-due utility bills and threatened to cut power to the stores within 15 to 20 minutes if a payment was not made.
One business owner provided credit card information to the caller, police said.
Port Angeles police said a similar scam was reported last year.
To report a phone scam, call the Sequim Police Department at 360-683-7227, Port Angeles Police at 360-452-4545 or the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2459.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
