Cherokee Village, AR. – Every year, it seems over-the-phone scams among others are becoming more and more common. Today, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding increased scammer activitiy. The statement can be read in its entirety below.
SCAMMERS ARE VERY ACTIVE
Over the past several days, we have received several calls from citizens reporting attempts by scammers to take their hard-earned money. While the scams may be presented in different ways, many of them are the same scams that have been circulating for a long time.
Advertisement
Scammers may pose as law enforcement officers, government officials, businesses, financial institutions, family members, or other trusted individuals. They often use threats, pressure, or a sense of urgency to convince you to send money or provide personal and financial information.
Remember: Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. Don’t let them rush you.
We encourage everyone to:
• Never send money to someone who unexpectedly contacts you demanding payment.
• Never give out your Social Security number, bank information, passwords, or other personal information to an unsolicited caller.
• Be suspicious of anyone demanding payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other unusual payment methods.
• Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can make a phone number appear to be a legitimate local or government number.
• If someone claims to be a law enforcement officer and demands immediate payment to avoid arrest, hang up and contact the agency directly using a trusted phone number.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or someone you trust before sending money or making a financial decision.
Law enforcement agencies will not call you and demand that you pay money over the phone to avoid arrest or resolve a warrant.
Scammers are also very active on the internet and social media.
Be cautious when receiving unexpected messages, friend requests, advertisements, emails, or offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers may create fake profiles using someone else’s name and photos, pretend to be a friend or family member, offer fake jobs or investments, sell nonexistent items, or send links designed to steal your passwords and financial information.
Do not click on suspicious links, send money to someone you have only met online, or provide personal information simply because someone appears legitimate.
If you receive a message from someone you know asking for money or financial assistance, contact that person directly using a phone number you already have rather than responding to the message.
If something doesn’t feel right, it probably deserves a second look. Take a moment, slow down, and verify who you are actually dealing with before giving anyone your money or personal information.
Don’t let a scammer take what you have worked hard to earn.
If you are in Izard County and believe you have been targeted by a scam, contact the Sheriff’s Office. Even if you did not lose money, reporting the attempt can help us warn others and identify ongoing scams.
Advertisement
