10/30/2026
SCAM ALERT: West Plains Police Warn Local Businesses of Fraudulent Purchases
The West Plains Police Department is warning local businesses about a scam that has recently impacted two businesses in our community.
In these incidents, scammers have placed large orders for construction materials using fraudulent credit cards. The transactions initially appear to be approved, and the merchandise is picked up by third-party delivery drivers, commonly known as "hotshot" drivers.
However, several days after the merchandise has been picked up, the transactions are flagged as fraudulent and the payments are reversed, leaving the businesses without payment or their merchandise.
Local businesses are encouraged to take extra precautions when processing large or unusual orders, particularly those involving third-party pickups.
Businesses should be alert to the following warning signs:
• Large purchases from unfamiliar customers
• Orders involving significant quantities of construction materials
• Requests for immediate pickup by third-party drivers
• Customers who are unwilling or unable to verify their identity or payment information
*An initially approved credit card transaction does not guarantee that the payment cannot later be reversed.
The West Plains Police Department encourages businesses to verify suspicious transactions with their payment processor before releasing merchandise.
If your business has experienced a similar incident or you suspect fraudulent activity, please contact the West Plains Police Department at 417-256-2244.
Please share this information with local business owners and employees to help prevent additional incidents.
