HARTFORD, Ky. — The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens and local businesses about a phone scam making the rounds again.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a local business was the victim of a scam in which scammers used fake caller ID information to trick the business into giving out personal information. The scammers used fake caller ID to trick victims into believing they’re dealing with a government agency, a police department or someone the victim would trust.
The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Federal Trade Commission, recommends not relying on the caller ID to verify a caller, especially if the caller is requesting money or personal information.
The FTC provides several tips to deal with potential fake caller ID scammers:
- If you get a strange call from the government, hang up. To check it out, visit the official (.gov) website for contact information. Government employees won’t call out of the blue to demand money or account information.
- Don’t give out, or confirm, your personal or financial information to someone who calls.
- Don’t wire money or send money using a reloadable card. In fact, never pay someone who calls out of the blue, even if the name or number on the caller ID looks legit.
- Feeling pressured to act immediately? Hang up. That’s a sure sign of a scam.