Recent bomb threats in Milw. area are part of nationwide problem

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Bomb threats at popular Milwaukee-area stores this week are causing concern. There were three bomb threats on Monday, September 16th -- at two Walgreens stores and a Walmart. On Tuesday, September 17th, there was a bomb threat at a Kmart store. The bomb threats seem to be part of an emerging nationwide problem, as callers try to extort money.

The bomb threats have occurred at the following stores:

In these situations, the caller tells the store manager he or she wants Green Dot MoneyPak cards.

Officials say a caller phones the store manager, demanding that money be loaded onto the cards, the cards be activated, and the number of the card given to the caller over the phone.

If this is not done, the caller threatens to blow up the store.

The Better Business Bureau says the reloadable cards are ripe for scams -- saying they are like prepaid credit cards, and the funds are untraceable.

"It appears to us as recognition grows for the Green Dot Card MoneyPak scammers feel this is a new way to get your cash because it's not well protected," Ran Hoth with the Wisconsin BBB said.

Federal officials say in recent months, stores across the country have been threatened. The FBI says 10 retail stores in Georgia got calls, as well as stores in Minnesota, Missouri and North Dakota.

During this week's bomb threats in the Milwaukee area, the stores were searched and cleared, and no bombs were discovered.

"Our job here in Milwaukee is to coordinate with our national partners and the calls in the townships and cities across the United States," Milwaukee FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Combs said.

One published report says a call was identified as an overseas telephone number, making it more difficult to track.

It seems as though no store manager has complied with the demands, but the calls keep coming.

So far, the Green Dot Corporation has not issued a statement.