We know that bad people are always out there to steal your money. It’s tax season and now is a good time to remember not to fall victim of a scam. The number one key, according to Anderson County Sheriff Vern Valentine, is to be suspicious of anyone that calls and says they need certain information from you. The IRS or Department or Revenue will not call you for any information they may need.
Two other scams are going around. Valentine says one scam is a call that says a loved one is in jail and urges the person to send money by gift card or Western Union. Find out the jail he or she is in, look up the number for that jail, call the jail and ask them if that person is there, or just call the family member and see if they answer their phone. He says another big scam is a supposed call from a law enforcement agency saying they’re coming to arrest you, or take your car, or your DNA has been found at a crime scene; but, if you send money now, they will call them off. This does not happen. The police are not going to call and tell you to pay money to stay out of jail. If they are looking to arrest you, they’ll find you and will not call you and tell you they are coming.
Valentine urged local residents who think they’ve been targeted by a scam, to contact the sheriff’s office.
