A phone number on one of the organization's older pamphlets, however, contains a retired number that goes directly to a reported scam line, a number purchased by scammers to convince callers to give their credit card number in return for a $100 Walmart card and other gifts, Jackson said.

Several of the old pamphlets with the retired 1-877-439-3480 number were mixed in and distributed at last week's Aging Expo in Roanoke Rapids.

“Several called the number to find out it was a phishing scam,” Jackson said. The hook in the scam is that to get the gift card the person has to pay a $4 handling fee with only their credit card number.

rrspin.com called the number this afternoon and persuaded the operator to allow the use of a money order, which was denied.

Jackson said the old pamphlets were inadvertently placed in with the new ones. The correct number is 1-877-579-7562.

No one was taken by the scam, Jackson said. “They sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience.”

Meanwhile, Jackson said a recent text message scam purportedly from Southern Bank claiming an account issue is under federal investigation.