Letter to the editor

The Carter County Attorney’s Office has become aware of a substantial increase in the number of criminal attempts to defraud and steal from Carter County citizens, especially senior citizens. Recently, local law enforcement officers have seen examples of the following criminal acts in Carter County:

1) Criminals pose as federal law enforcement or, even local law enforcement officers on the phone and demand payments from victims who are threatened with arrest or prosecution if the victims do not pay.

2) Criminals call as a loved one or friend or on behalf of a loved one or friend who is jailed and needs bail money sent to the “jail” before they can be released.

3) Criminals pose as bank employees and call victims and claim the victim’s bank account has been hacked and the fake employee requests password and personal information to gain access to the victim’s open line of credit. The criminals then take out loans on the open lines of credit and steal the money. NOTE – these lines of credit are not insured by banks, so unlike cases of credit card fraud, banks are not responsible for reimbursing victims for losses. Some of these criminals find out as much personal information, such as loan numbers, as they can prior to calling to obtain the passwords which makes victims believe the caller could actually be from the bank.

4) Criminals pose as sweepstakes or contest companies who offer millions of dollars in exchange for some smaller amount (often $1000) the victim is required to pay up front to receive the millions. Sometimes, these criminals will claim they will appear in person to receive the money, and then they give excuses why they can’t appear or they send another criminal to receive the money. Usually, the criminals say that this deal is your and their “little secret” and you shouldn’t tell the bank or law enforcement what the money is for.

5) Criminals pose as antique, coin, or commodity dealers who offer payments in exchange for gold, silver, coins, cattle, or other items who then take possession of the items, but never pay any money.

6) Criminals pose as furniture movers who show up and take possession of your personal household items during a move, but, instead, move your items out of state to an undisclosed storage facility and hold your items hostage until you pay exorbitant fees.

7) Criminals pose as public or political survey takers who ask some general questions but then ask victims for personal information or “donations” over the phone.

8) Criminals pose as insurance agents who then ask personal medical information and social security numbers to “verify” your personal information under the guise of complying with HIPAA.

9) Criminals offer items for sale under internet sales services such as Etsy who take your credit card information and make fraudulent purchase using your card information.

10) Criminals use emails and claim to be companies such as Sirius Radio, Amazon, Target, Costco, Walmart and other companies and claim that victim’s payment for services did not go through and request victims tap on a hyperlink to correct the problem, and then they download harmful viruses on your computer which either collect and reveal your personal information or take control over your computer for a ransom demand.

11) Criminals install card readers / scanners in public ATM’s, gas station pumps, or other credit / debit card stations and then steal victim’s credit card and debit card information when the victim inserts their card in a public credit/debit card port.

There are no shortages of the attempts to defraud you out of your money, and efforts to investigate and prosecute these crimes are rarely successful as the offenders are often in another state or country in the world hiding behind layer after layer of protections and anonymity.

If any of you are contacted by these types of people or you are the victim of crime, please contact the Carter County Sheriff’s Office at (406) 775-8743. Even if you suspect that the contact from the caller is legitimate, especially if you did not initiate the contact, call the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, and they will look into the calls, emails, and text messages. In the meantime, never give out your private information, your social security number, your bank account or card account information, your passwords, or account names over the phone.

Be skeptical of all contact. We have even heard of recent A/I programs that mimic the voices of friends and loved one’s over the phone. Don’t get pushed into making hasty decisions. Don’t get threatened into making rash choices, and don’t get conned into believing that you’ll get a million tomorrow for a thousand today. There are a lot of criminals out there who live by stealing from victims who have worked hard for their savings. Criminals do these acts because they are so successful. Don’t be a fish hooked by a shiny lure. The Carter County Sheriffs Office and Carter County Attorneys Office are here to help you keep freely swimming.

Corbit Harrington

Carter County Attorney