Scam texts and phone calls are becoming increasingly common, with seniors often among the top targets. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is now working to help older adults recognize the warning signs before they lose money.Barbara and Greg Epley recently found themselves in the middle of a scam while trying to sell furniture online. They said the buyer sent a cashier’s check that appeared legitimate at first.“They looked it over, several bank people looked it over,” Barbara Epley said. “And they said it looks legit. It’s a cashier’s check, and they said we have no way of telling that it’s not a good check.”But the situation quickly raised red flags. The check was for $1,200 more than the asking price, and the buyer asked the couple to pay a carrier $1,000 when the furniture was picked up.“If we didn’t know any better, it would sound absolutely perfect, even the amount,” Greg Epley said. “And when it started getting more and more, and we even called back and said, well, we don’t want to give it to a courier, can we just wait until you’re back in town. They said no, no, we really need this right away.”Chief Deputy Steve Healey said scams like that are happening far too often, and they are showing up in many forms.“We’re also seeing, like, text messages about property taxes, missing court dates. You have a child that’s been arrested,” Healey said.Healey said one of the easiest ways to verify whether a message or call is real is to contact the company or the sheriff’s office directly, rather than responding through the message itself. He also warned people never to click on links sent in suspicious texts.“Oh, let me open this link up and see what they’re actually talking about,” Healey said. “Now they just got into your phone.”He also urged people not to share personal information over the phone and to remember that if a call is truly important, the caller will usually leave a voicemail.Officials say the bottom line is simple: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.For those who missed the sheriff’s office’s latest scam awareness session, there will be three more opportunities to attend later this month:April 9: 2950 W. Market St. April 23: 4917 Dixie HighwayApril 24: 3151 S. 2nd Street
Scam texts and phone calls are becoming increasingly common, with seniors often among the top targets. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is now working to help older adults recognize the warning signs before they lose money.
Barbara and Greg Epley recently found themselves in the middle of a scam while trying to sell furniture online. They said the buyer sent a cashier’s check that appeared legitimate at first.
“They looked it over, several bank people looked it over,” Barbara Epley said. “And they said it looks legit. It’s a cashier’s check, and they said we have no way of telling that it’s not a good check.”
But the situation quickly raised red flags. The check was for $1,200 more than the asking price, and the buyer asked the couple to pay a carrier $1,000 when the furniture was picked up.
“If we didn’t know any better, it would sound absolutely perfect, even the amount,” Greg Epley said. “And when it started getting more and more, and we even called back and said, well, we don’t want to give it to a courier, can we just wait until you’re back in town. They said no, no, we really need this right away.”
Chief Deputy Steve Healey said scams like that are happening far too often, and they are showing up in many forms.
“We’re also seeing, like, text messages about property taxes, missing court dates. You have a child that’s been arrested,” Healey said.
Healey said one of the easiest ways to verify whether a message or call is real is to contact the company or the sheriff’s office directly, rather than responding through the message itself. He also warned people never to click on links sent in suspicious texts.
“Oh, let me open this link up and see what they’re actually talking about,” Healey said. “Now they just got into your phone.”
He also urged people not to share personal information over the phone and to remember that if a call is truly important, the caller will usually leave a voicemail.
Officials say the bottom line is simple: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
For those who missed the sheriff’s office’s latest scam awareness session, there will be three more opportunities to attend later this month:
- April 9: 2950 W. Market St.
- April 23: 4917 Dixie Highway
- April 24: 3151 S. 2nd Street
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