Scan for Scams: Police report an increase of scams in the area

NORTH ALABAMA ( WHNT ) – “They’ll prey on people’s emotions. They’ll prey on people’s feelings,” Athens Police Detective Kelly Fussell told News 19.

Scammers are getting smarter, and you should too. Local police departments are receiving increasing amounts of scam reports with at least one daily. This is causing citizens to lose hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of dollars.

“These people are very skilled at what they do,” Public Information Officer at Morgan County Sherrif’s Office Mike Swafford said. “And they only need 1 or 2 people to say yes in a day and they’ve had a good day.”

Scammers will email or call their victims with a made-up story, a fake persona or an illegitimate link, trying to gain access to accounts, personal information or money.

“It comes in all shapes and forms,” Fussell said. “People just have to be aware and cognizant of what’s going on. And, it happens to just about everybody.”

A new type of scam is becoming more popular: bail bonds. Scammers will call a victim and tell them their loved one is in jail and needs their money to get out. Scammers will search Facebook pages and the Internet for family members’ names and information to make the story seem as believable as possible.

“Usually grandparents, you’re contacted and your grandkid has been arrested, you have that natural instinct that you want to help,” Swafford said. “‘Oh, what do they need, what can I do?’ And, that’s what they’re playing on.”

Police are reiterating to people that no police department or government agency will call and ask for payment over the phone.

“Block those numbers,” Fussell said. “If you’re getting emails, then just delete the emails and don’t answer them.”

Police share that if you have a bad feeling about a phone call or e-mail, it’s probably in your best interest to ignore it or block it. Further, check with any company’s official contact information before you send money. Call your bank’s or bail bond service’s official phone number to check if the money request is legitimate.

“A lot of people say, well I know it’s a scam,” Swafford said. “But the message we try to preach is what about your grandmother, what about your aunt, what about the people in your family. Because, that’s the people that fall victim to it.”

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