Bluffton police ask Icon viewers to be aware of a potential telephone scam taking place in the area.
"We had a couple come into the police station today because they were contacted saying a family member needed “bail” money. The entire incident was a hoax, and fortunately, the local residents contacted police to clear things up before anyone lost any money," Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief told The Icon.
Helpful hints provided by the police department:
1. If you have caller ID, use it to screen calls. If you don’t recognize the caller ID, don’t answer the call.
2. Anytime the caller asks you to not tell anyone about the call, you should be very suspicious. The caller hopes you will abide by their wishes and not check with other family members to piece together the hoax.
3. Anyone who is asked to send money via commercial carrier, wire transfer, or by credit/gift cards should be wary. The caller knows that once your money is out of your hands and in the electronic world, it is very difficult if not impossible to get it back.
4. If you want to have fun, pose some type of question of the caller to see if they can answer correctly. For example, without giving any pre-information, ask for the name of something unique (family pet, favorite vacation spot, color of your house, etc). Callers will quickly realize they are up against a formidable foe and hang up the phone call.
5. Don’t be afraid to hang up. Callers often try to keep you talking to elicit information they can use later in the conversation.
"Please feel free to contact the police department for assistance before you give money or electronic transfers," said Skillier.
"The callers will use stories such as a family member needing bail money, has car trouble needing money for repairs, or is in the hospital and must pay the bill before discharge. Many of these cases are verifiable before the money is sent, but once the money transaction starts, it is extremely difficult or impossible to intercede to prevent the loss," he added.
