The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office has received a report about a possible scam by telephone, Sheriff Jack Smith said in a statement.
A Northampton County resident received a phone call that they had won $850,000 from the Publishers Clearinghouse, however, the caller stated that $985 was needed to process the winnings.
The resident was told to go to Walmart and purchase a Green Dot MoneyPack reloader card.
While she was on the way to purchase the card she received several more calls from the same number and that threw up a red flag.
The resident told the caller she wanted to talk with family before buying the card. She returned home and contacted the sheriff’s office.
While Deputy Jeff Barnes was at her residence, she received another call. The deputy spoke with the caller who used profanity and hung up.
The resident did not suffer any loss through this scam.
“This type of scam wants you to purchase the money cards because it is very difficult for them to be traced by law enforcement,” Smith said in the statement.
Other scams
Meanwhile,the sheriff's office has received reports of a scam similar to one reported in Halifax County where the potential victim is threatened with arrest if a debt is not satisfied, as well as the Southern Bank text scam.
“If a debt is not paid, there is a civil process for the person to collect money that does not involve someone being arrested,” Smith said.
What not to do
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.
Don't send money to an online seller you’ve never heard of — or an online love interest who asks for money.
It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. “If you buy items through an online auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card.”
Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back.
By law, banks have to make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. “You’re responsible for the checks you deposit: If a check turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for paying back the bank. No matter how convincing the story, someone who overpays with a check is almost certainly a scam artist.”
Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information. It doesn't matter whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad.
“Don’t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. It’s called phishing. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you got a message like this and you are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card — or your statement — and check on it.”
Don’t play a foreign lottery.
Messages that tout your chances of winning a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won, can be tempting. “:Inevitably, you have to pay taxes, fees, or customs duties to collect your prize.”
Said the sheriff: “If you must send money to collect, you haven’t won anything. And if you send any money, you will lose it. You won’t get any money back, either, regardless of promises or guarantees.”
What to Do
Know who you’re dealing with.
Know that wiring money is like sending cash.
Read your monthly statements.
Remember there's no sure thing in investing.
Overpayment and fake check scams
With overpayment scams, fraudsters play the role of buyer and target consumers selling a product or service. It usually works this way: The buyer accidentally sends you a check for more than the amount they owe you. They ask you to deposit it into your bank account and then wire them the difference.
A deposited check can take several days or more to clear. When the original check turns out to be a fake and bounces, the victim is still on the hook to pay the bank back for any money withdrawn. Fake checks can be used for any type of scam, so always wait for a deposit to clear before writing checks against the funds.
Emergency scams
Scammers make up an emergency situation and target friends and family with pleas for help, and money.
The Grandparent Scam is one version of the emergency scam: A young person poses as a grandchild with an emergency and appeals to family members to help them immediately.
Don't believe everything you hear, and be sure to verify the emergency situation before you give them any contact information, and especially before you send any money.
Another variation is the relationship scam.
You meet a great person online, everything seems to be going great but you aren't able to meet yet for any variety of reasons.
Suddenly your online love interest has an emergency and needs you to wire money, and as soon as you do, he or she will continue to find more reasons to ask for money from you. Remember, you should never wire money to someone that you don't personally know or trust or haven't met in person.
Home Improvement Scams
Look out for home improvement contractors who leave your home worse than they found it. They usually knock on your door with a story or a deal—the roofer who can spot some missing shingles on your roof, the paver with some leftover asphalt who can give you a great deal on driveway resealing. Itinerant contractors move around, keeping a step ahead of the law... and angry consumers. Identity
Theft Scams
There are a million ways to steal someone's identity and once thieves have your personal information, they can max out your credit cards, drain your bank account, and ruin your credit rating.
Identity theft scams come in all shapes and sizes—friends or grandchildren stranded in a foreign country, the hotel front desk verifying your credit card in the middle of the night, charity solicitations from groups you've never supported in the past.
Never give your personal information to someone who has contacted you to ask for them.
