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Residents targeted by telephone scam

By Staff | Jun 15, 2011

Tyler County Sheriff Bob Kendle is advising area residents to be cautious when giving personal information to telephone solicitors, after at least three residents in the county were targeted by a scam.

“One caller advised a man contacted her via telephone to let her know a family member had been arrested across the Canadian border and was in need of money,” Kendle explained.

According to the report, the caller then instructed her to wire a substantial amount of money to an international bail bondsman.

According to Kendle, calls of this nature are usually found to be scams. He urges anyone who receives a call of this nature to do some investigating of their own before sending money or giving out personal information. “If they give you the name of the family member, call them to make sure that person is OK,” he stated. “Don’t just send the money.”

He stressed the importance of guarding personal infromation. “Never give your social security number, credit card information, or anything else of a personal nature to a stranger.”

Residents who receive phone calls they believe to be scams are asked to contact the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office at 304-758-4229.