(KNZA)--As scams continue to circulate across the region, a local sheriff’s office is providing resources to help residents from falling victim to scammers.
Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, citing “the alarming rate of unscrupulous individuals trying to scam people out of their hard earned money,” is making available identity theft information booklets. They can be picked up, at no cost, in the lobby of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, located in Hiawatha.
The resource is made available as Merchant is made aware of another round of scam phone calls, including one falsely claiming that social security information has been compromised.
Another resurfacing scam is one where residents receive a phone call claiming that a grandchild has been arrested in a foreign country. “Folks are getting called. [The caller says] that their grandchildren have been in a jail in Mexico, and that they need some money wired to them right away, and they seem very frantic when they call. The folks are very concerned, and when they followup, they find out that really, in fact, their grandkids aren’t down there.”
Another scam is being reported that involves the false claim that the IRS is owed money. “We’ve had calls from people getting messages from people eluding the fact that they are IRS representatives and if they don’t send x number amount of dollars right way, they will issue warrants, or people will lose their jobs, or something, if they’re not complying with the IRS. If the IRS wants to contact you, they will contact you by mail, not by phone.”
Merchant says the safest way to handle such phone calls is to hang up quickly, and provide no information.
If someone feels they may have fallen victim to a scam, Merchant says they should call his office, or other local law enforcement, immediately.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Holton man receives Hard 25 sentence for child sex crime
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Power outage leads to early school dismissal
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Vacancy filled on USD 115 board
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
PBPN breaks ground for new business
Sheriff issues safety reminder
USD 415 board approves bids for new HS stadium lights
Johnson-Brock School not able to accept all option-in requests
LATEST STORIES
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
New nurse practitioner in Mound City
Mound City Aldermen reorganize and approve purchases
Valley Falls gains state tire grant
KS' LaTurner will not seek another term
One held for past Atchison shooting
Lancaster boil water advisory lifted Thursday