Full Notification

Unfortunately, every year thousands of individuals fall victim to phone, email, and postal scams losing monetary amounts of a couple hundred dollars up to their entire life savings. No one is immune to victimization, however many individuals targeted by scammers are elderly. Current scams (which you may have heard of) include but are not limited to:

• The Grandparent scam - the victim will receive a phone call from someone claiming to be their “grandchild” who is out of town, in a desperate situation, and needs money wired to them immediately.
• Lottery Scam – the victim will receive a phone call or email from an “official” overseas claiming that they have won the lottery, but need money wired to them up-front as payment for taxes and fees before the winnings can be collected.
• Utilities Scam – the victim will receive a phone call from someone claiming to work for their utility company (electric, gas, phone, etc.) stating that the company is about to cut off service due to unpaid bills. The scammers will ask for credit card information or to have money wired to them to stop the shut-off.

Again, these are only a few of the many scams you or your loved ones may receive at some point in time. We caution everyone to be wary when receiving phone calls, emails, and letters requesting money. NEVER give out personal or financial information (such as your Social Security number, credit card, bank routing numbers) over the phone or via email, unless you are the one who made the phone call and are speaking with a business or agency you know and trust.

If you receive a call similar to the “grandparent scam,” call your grandchild or relatives prior to sending any money to confirm their story. If you receive a call or email similar to the “lottery scam,” simply hang up and/or delete it; you cannot win an out of country lottery, nor should you have to pay for your “free prize”. Lastly, if you receive a phone call similar to the “utilities scam,” hang up, locate one of your most recent utility bills, and call the customer service phone number provided on your bill to confirm whether you are up-to-date or past due.

***Some additional things to remember***
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
• No one should ask you to send money to claim something you won.
• Once you send money, it is gone and usually cannot be recovered.
• If in doubt, contact your local police department BEFORE becoming a victim.