Giles County authorities share tips on how to avoid four common phone scams
Telephone scams have been on the rise and the Giles County Sherriffโs Office wants to help. Here are four common scams and tips to avoid them:If someone calls you through WhatsApp posing as a police officer, donโt fall for their tricks. The Giles County Sheriffโs Office wants you to know that a deputy would never call asking for money or to clear arrest warrants. Even if the caller ID shows a Virginia State Police phone number, still be skeptical because a caller ID is not always accurate. The Giles County Sheriffโs Office said that deputies will never ask for payments through gift cards.
Beware of scammers trying to sell COVID-19 vaccines online
Roanoke, Va. โ From PPE to at-home tests, scammers are still preying on people during this pandemic. Better Business Bureau Western Virginia is warning people to not purchase coronavirus vaccines, especially online. She said scammers are taking advantage of peopleโs vulnerability during this pandemic. โI mean itโs just given them the perfect storm because obviously people are concerned,โ Wheeler said. Instead, she urges people to rely on the state governmentโs distribution announcements and personal primary physicians.
Danville issues warning after scammers threaten peopleโs utilities to steal information
DANVILLE, Va. โ If you get a call that your utilities will be disconnected in a half-hour, know this... itโs a scam. The city of Danville is warning residents that scammers are spoofing a local phone number as Danville Utilities to make calls threatening people. The caller claims to be with the utilities department, threatens to disconnect service if the customer does not make immediate payment and then asks for the customerโs debit or credit card number. Danville Utilities does not call customers about disconnects; rather, any notice of disconnection is done by mail. If you receive a call from someone you do not know and who is urging you to make a payment to Danville Utilities, write down the phone number, hang up and then contact the Division of Customer Accounts at 434-799-5125 or visit the Charles H. Harris Financial Service Center, which is located at 311 Memorial Drive.
No, Virginiaโs coronavirus contact tracers will not ask for money or your SSN
RICHMOND, Va. โ The Virginia Department of Health is warning residents that scammers might call them posing as COVID-19 contact tracers in order to take their money. A news release from the department on Monday says its contact tracers will not ask for money or for a Social Security number, bank account details, credit card numbers or payment of any form. When they call, your phone will identify the caller as "VDH COVID Team," the release said. Also, contact tracers will offer to enroll Virginians in a voluntary contact monitoring platform called Sara Alert, so that they can update their local health departments as to their health status. The Sara Alert system is secure and always contacts users from the same phone number or email: 844-957-2721 or notifications@saraalert.org, the release said.
SCAM ALERT: Roanoke City Police Department warns about fake text messages
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Roanoke City Police Department said theyโve been made aware of a scam happening in Roanoke. The scam involves an individual posing as a member of the Roanoke City Police Department. The text encourages the intended target to call a specific number to take care of the warrant. The Roanoke City Police Department reminds people that they will not text anyone about warrants. If you receive this text message, police say to call them at (540)-853-2212 or stop by the station and speak with an officer.
How to make sure youโre not the victim of a pet scam
Dog breeder Atasha Loboschefski is no stranger to puppy scams. I was actually scammed myself several years ago when I tried to buy a puppy back in the Western Union-style days,โ said Loboschefski. In November, 10 News told you about two websites, claiming to be local companies that the Roanoke Better Business Bureau determined were scams. Roanoke Better Business Bureau CEO Julie Wheeler said researching the company youโre going to buy from and the pictures on the companyโs website is always a good idea and meet the dogs and breeder in person if you can. โVideos, pictures, live taping of things, live births, things like that.
Donโt fall for it: Army Recruiting says military draft texts arenโt real
Just a heads up: The U.S. Army is not sending out text messages to tell people theyโve been chosen for a military draft, officials from Recruiting Command said Wednesday. Even if there were a draft, itโs not a decision made by U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The Selective Service System, a separate agency outside of the Department of Defense, is the organization that manages registration for the Selective Service, officials said. The Selective Service System is conducting business as usual. Registering for the Selective Service does not enlist you into the military.
Floyd County Sheriffโs Office warns of scam
FLOYD COUNTY, Va. โ The Floyd County Sheriffโs Office is warning residents of a scam where fraudsters claim to be deputies and ask people for money. The caller allegedly had the correct last four numbers of the victimโs social security number. The impersonatorโs phone number showed on caller ID as the sheriffโs office phone number. Officials with the sheriffโs office want to remind residents that deputies will never request money. If you receive a call like this, call the sheriffโs office at 540-745-9334.