The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning Tuesday regarding a surge in phone and financial scams targeting local residents, particularly senior citizens.
Sheriff’s officials reported that residents have already lost a substantial amount of money to fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers, bank officials and government agencies.
Investigators said scammers frequently attempt to create a false sense of urgency by claiming a victim’s bank account has been compromised or threatening them with arrest over an alleged active warrant.
Once victims willingly transfer funds, purchase gift cards, or send cryptocurrency, financial institutions are rarely able to recover the money.
Authorities urged residents to be vigilant and warned that callers can spoof official phone numbers on Caller ID to appear legitimate.
To prevent further losses, deputies advised residents to hang up on suspicious callers and contact banks or agencies directly using verified phone numbers.
“No legitimate agency will be upset with you for independently verifying who they are before you provide information or take financial action,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement.
Authorities encouraged family members to discuss these reminders with elderly relatives, who are frequently targeted by financial fraudsters:
- Law enforcement will never call and demand money to clear a warrant or avoid arrest.
- Government agencies will not instruct you to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, use cryptocurrency or transfer money to a “safe” account.
- Your bank will not ask you to remove money from your account and give it to someone for safekeeping.
- Never provide account numbers, PINs, passwords or verification codes to an unsolicited caller.
- Do not trust Caller ID. Scammers can make a call appear to come from a legitimate agency, bank or local phone number.
- If someone pressures you to act immediately, hang up. Call your bank, the agency involved, or law enforcement yourself using a phone number you know is legitimate.
“A five-minute conversation with a parent, grandparent, neighbor or friend could prevent them from losing their life savings,” the sheriff’s office said.
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