The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is receiving calls about possible scams from local telephone numbers, and would like to remind residents of unscrupulous scam artists.

These appear most often in the form of mass mailings or in the form of annoying telephone calls.

With mailings, one can scrutinize and take time to digest all of the information before you reach a decision.

A more invasive form comes in the form of telephone solicitations.

Recently a large number of county citizens have received calls with local numbers showing in the caller ID.  Scammers have realized you are more likely to answer a local call than that of an unknown out of state number.

In addition, they have in the past identified themselves as Sheriff’s Office representatives. They threaten the recipient with large fines and incarceration.  These are fraudulent calls.

Other calls target the elderly.  This includes a frantic call from a grandchild stating they have been arrested and need money for bail.

In addition calls from telemarketers offering you everything from fantastic investment opportunities to home repairs (for an unbelievably low price).

The callers always seem nice, and their offers can appear irresistible. “Well, remember what you have been told, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle said.  “Most of these incredible offers are not legitimate.  Some are downright criminal, with the majority skirting the letter of the law with numerous loopholes or unrealistic expectations.”

Despite such consumer protections as the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the National Do Not Call Registry, fraudulent telemarketers convey promises of huge prizes, fantastic investment returns, and unbelievable deals on all sorts of merchandise, even vacation packages.

They craft schemes to take advantage of those of limited means and those who are affluent, of those who are isolated and those who are active. These predators treat everyone as fair game.

Below are six simple tactics the Sheriff’s Office says you can employ to protect yourself when, not if, that call comes in.

1 – Never give personal information to someone on the phone.

Legitimate business callers will not ask you for this information over the phone. If a caller asks for personal information such as a credit card number or Social Security number, just say:“I don’t give out personal information over the phone. I’ll contact the company directly and provide them with the necessary information.”

2 – If the caller tells you he or she wants to give you something for free, then you shouldn’t have to pay to receive it.

Often, the caller will tell you that you need to pay a handling charge or pay taxes on the prize, but that should be a red flag. Tell them:

“I shouldn’t have to send money for something that’s free.”

3 – Do not get pressured into making a quick decision.

So-called limited time offers should not require an immediate decision. A legitimate business will not rush you, Just tell the caller:

“I’d like some time to think about this. Tell me how I can get in touch with you. If I’m interested ,I’ll call you back.”

4 – In addition to rushing you, some unscrupulous telemarketers will try to convince you not to talk to anyone about the call.

They might tell you if you divulge the offer to anyone else, it could jeopardize the deal. This is a warning sign.  It is a good idea to discuss offers with those you respect and trust.  You may say:

“I’d like to take some time to discuss this with my family and friends, and I’ll get back to you.”

5 – lways be clear on what products or services you are purchasing.

It can be hard to understand all the details of a verbal offer. What you hear may not be what the caller is saying, or what he or she said may not be entirely accurate. The best way to proceed is to have the material mailed to you so you can read it carefully and at your leisure. If the caller isn’t willing to send you written information, say the following:

“If you can’t mail me the information, then I can’t talk to you.”

6 – Do not pay for goods or services through wire transfers.

The most common theme among current scams is the request of payment by wire transfer.  They commonly request payment through services such as Western Union or Moneygram.  Do not use these services unless you know the recipient.  These services enable a scammer to pick up funds anywhere in the world.  Simply tell the caller:

“I don’t pay for services using wire transfers.”

The Federal Trade Commission is the federal agency responsible for consumer protection and enforcement.  For more information visit www.ftc.gov.

If you have suspicions, questions or need further information, contact Lieutenant Jeff Stritesky at the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office, (540) 928-2248 or jstritesky@botetourtva.gov.