Scams have become increasingly prevalent in our area, and the scammers have become more sophisticated in their tactics. The vast majority of these scams originate overseas, and it is all but impossible to retrieve money once a victim has been scammed.
On May 22, 2026, Baxter County Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner Anderson, took a report from a 65-year-old Norfork, Arkansas woman who stated she had been scammed. The woman stated she received a text message on her phone claiming her account information had been compromised. The unidentified suspect coerced her into sending $20,000 in cash to an address in San Francisco, California. The woman stated she had sent the cash in a box by UPS the day before and provided a tracking number.
Deputy Anderson contacted the UPS location in Mountain View, Arkansas where the package was shipped and attempted to locate and stop the package. After contacting several people within UPS, Deputy Anderson contacted Deputy Jason Bradley who drove to the UPS Office in Midway, Arkansas. They put him in touch with the regional security officer and together they were able to intercept the package and have it returned to the Mountain View UPS Office.
The Mountain View Police Department was able to secure the package from UPS, and the victim retrieved the box and the $20,000 cash.
We encourage everyone to be diligent and mindful of scammers. Below is a short list of “red flags” to watch for. If you see or hear one of these, you automatically know it’s a scam.
Sheriff John Montgomery
Automatic Triggers (red flags) to Know it is a Scam
- When they tell you not to call law enforcement
- If you are instructed to go to your bank and make a withdrawal of cash for any reason
- If you have to pay anything, even one dollar to receive a prize
- When you are instructed to buy any type of gift card and either mail it somewhere or give them the number on the back
- You receive a call saying they are from the IRS. IRS doesn’t call you
- You receive a call from a relative saying they are in jail, but they don’t want you to call anyone to verify
- You receive a call saying you missed jury duty and you will be arrested if you don’t pay. Law enforcement does not call you like this
- If something pops up on your computer screen tell you to call Microsoft or Google
- Anyone who asks for your social security number or bank account number
- Someone claiming to be from Medicare wanting your personal information. They already have it
- Someone claiming that you won a prize, but you didn’t enter any contest or drawing
- Someone calling claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office about a friend or relative who is in jail or was just released from jail wanting money to get them out or keep them out. Law enforcement does not do that.
- You receive a call from your bank or credit card company saying there is fraudulent activity on your credit card or debit card. DO NOT TALK WITH THEM. HANG UP AND CALL THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE BACK OF YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD
- Keep this a secret and don’t tell anyone
- If they tell you to lie to your bank or family
