Citizens - Beware of Scams!
Good day, folks. We recently had a dear friend in town fall victim to a scam and lose several thousand dollars. Please peruse the following scam types and advice related to scams to keep yourself safe:
- If it’s too good to be true, it is.
- If you didn’t sign up for a sweepstakes/Publisher’s Clearing House, you couldn’t have won (but even still, does it sound too good to be true?).
- There’s no such thing as free money.
- There’s very little chance of someone making a large banking mistake in your favor.
- Never give out your personal information, including your license number and bank account information, to someone you haven’t verified on your own.
- Neither vendors, bill collectors, the FBI, social security, the IRS, nor the police will ask you to buy gift cards to “settle a debt” or “warrant” or even to change a password. Changing your password will rarely ever require a phone call, let alone information beyond your email address.
- If your grandchild calls and says they have been arrested and need bail money, ask them information that would confirm their identity (also, bail commissioners do not use money wiring services, such as MoneyGram or Western Union). It is a popular scam to get a phone call from your whispering “grandchild” who needs bail money, but is too distraught to give details, which causes you to panic and send money to a stranger.
- Never take out large sums of cash to present to a “courier” or "agency representative." If a stranger shows up to collect money from you, do not let them into your home. Call 911 and get as much of a description of them and their vehicle as possible. Any of the following items are useful: plate number, state of issuance (MA, NH, ME), the color, make, model of the car, any dents it may have, how many doors does it have (is it a 2-door or 4-door, or a hatchback?), was the person white, black, Hispanic; did they have long hair/short hair, glasses, any scars or tattoos; did the person have an accent/lisp/other speech impediment?
If you ever have doubts about something, give us a call before you agree to give someone information or money. If you don’t want to call 911, you can call the police department directly at 603-887-2080 and, if no one answers (because we’re on patrol), after about 8 rings the automated message will tell you dial 1 for the duty officer. Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office dispatch is more than happy to get our officer to you. Leaving a voicemail will result in a delayed response. Please only do this if there isn't a sense of urgency.
You can also put the Sheriff's Office on speed dial to access the dispatch center directly 603-679-2225.
Be safe out there, friends.