Sheriff's Corner

By Sheriff Mark Howie

Phone Frauds and Cons

Here’s hoping everyone is staying safe and warm during these cold days and nights. I’d like to highlight some phone scams that continue to con folks out of their hard earned money.

1. Law Enforcement or Fire Fighters Fund –

Just know that neither the police nor the

fire department will ever call on the phone

for donations to any charitable fund.

These groups DO NOT represent public

safety and instead fraudulently solicit

money by impersonating police or fire.

2. Jury duty fines – Callers try to solicit

payment for “missing jury duty” or for an “unpaid” ticket. Just know that our courts

will never call anyone to collect fines over

the phone for missing jury duty or for an

unpaid ticket.

3. IRS back taxes or fines – Callers try to

solicit payment for unpaid taxes or fines

or for not filling out the “student tax

form.” Just know that there is no such thing as a “student tax” AND the IRS will

NEVER try to collect fines or payment for

back taxes over the phone.

4. Unclaimed Money – Callers will try to

solicit a fee to send you unclaimed money

through the state. No state will ever call

you to return unclaimed money let alone

charge you a fee to receive your unclaimed

money.

5. Travel Packages – Callers will try to rush

you into buying a limited time offer travel

package. Never be rushed into paying

for a travel package as your package may

not be anything described or worse, no

package at all. Don’t pay for anything

that you can’t research or verify its validity.

6. Grandchild in distress needs money –

Callers will pretend to be a grandchild in

distress needing money wired to get out of

jail or are stuck in a place where they

need monetary assistance. They goad the

person into wiring money to another

location or send payment through PayPal.

Ask a lot of questions of the caller to

verify the person’s identity. Don’t be

rushed into responding to an unknown

caller in distress.

The point of all of these phone scams:

1. NEVER pay a fine or fee over the phone.

The above mentioned government entities

will not solicit payments over the phone.

2. NEVER give your credit card info, bank

account numbers, or personal info over

the phone.

3. If you are offered a special purchase by

phone, take your time to verify the caller

and their claim. If it sounds too good to

be true, it probably is. If it is legitimate,

they can send you documents by mail and

you can do your own research.

I hope you all stay safe through the winter season - take care of your families, yourselves, and your neighbors. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!