There are now several scams circulating around not only Beaufort County but also the country and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office wants citizens to remain aware of them, a spokesperson said.
One of those is known as the financial institution imposter scam.
“Scammers are posing as representatives from banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said. “Victims are told their accounts have been compromised and instructed to transfer money to another account to 'protect' their funds.”The spokesperson said thousands of dollars have been lost in this scam. To avoid this type of scam, citizens are asked to never transfer money based on an unsolicited call, text or email.
Another scam to be on the lookout
for is known as the business imposter scam.
“Scammers are posing as legitimate businesses and advertising services or merchandise online,” the spokesperson said. “Victims receive professional-looking invoices and are instructed to send funds, often by wire transfer or payment app, for a deposit or full payment.”The problem arises when services are never rendered, or the merchandise never arrives, and the scammer disappears or makes excuses.“Always independently verify the business and be cautious of anyone demanding payment by wire transfer or other difficult-to-reverse methods,” the spokesperson said.
A third scam to be on the lookout for, officials said, would be the National Preparedness Month scam.
“September is National Preparedness Month, and scammers often take advantage of severe weather and disasters by posing as government officials, charities, or contractors,” the spokesperson said.Prepare now, by reviewing your insurance coverage, securely storing important documents, creating a household inventory, researching contractors, and signing up for trusted local emergency alerts.
Officials offered some tips to help citizens avoid being scammed.
“Scammers often create urgency to pressure victims into acting before they have time to think,” the spokesperson said. “Before sending money or providing personal information, stop and independently verify who you are dealing with.”Anyone believing they have been the victim of a scam should immediately contact their financial institution and report suspected fraud to their local law enforcement agency. Fraud can also be reported to other agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Beaufort County Sheriff warns of scams circulating around county
