Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) property crimes investigators recently spent time at Lanier Village Estates helping residents stay one step ahead of scammers. They participated in the community’s Resident Tech Fair, sharing information about common scams, fraud prevention and ways to protect personal and financial information.
Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but one common scheme involves impersonating law enforcement officers. Here are a few reminders if you receive a call like this:
Scammers often find names of law enforcement personnel on social media and use legitimate names in their attempts to victimize people.
Scammers read arrest reports and may try to take advantage of families who have had a loved one taken into custody.
A legitimate law enforcement officer will never ask for money over the phone.
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up.
If you believe you have received a scam call, report it — whether you lost money or not. You can contact Hall County Dispatch’s non-emergency line at (770) 536-8812, ext. 8, and ask to speak with a deputy. You may also file an online report here: https://hallcounty.policetocitizen.com/ReportIncident
“Education and awareness are some of the best tools we have to prevent crime before it happens,” a sheriff’s office social media posting concludes.