Several telephone scams have been reported to Bluffton police this winter. Many have struck at elderly residents. Police Chief Rick Skilliter explained some of these scams to The Icon and warned viewers to beware.

1. Someone's in distress. The caller places a call and mumbles something sounding like: "Grandma or Grandpa." When the person on our end says something, the person commonly give up a name or some identifier like: "Johnny, is that you?" The person then takes on the persona of Johnny and explains that he are out of the country in some type of distress - jail, hospital or stranded. He asks for money to be wired through Western Union or some other non-governmental source.

2. You've won the big one! The caller or letter informs you that you've won it big - lottery, sweepstakes, etc. The caller may indicate that all you have to do is pay the taxes or complete some "insignificant" transfer to activate your winnings.

3. Cash this check and keep the proceeds. A mistake has been made in the shipping or handling of some commodity and the letter you receive asks for your help in clearing up the mistake. A check is enclosed and all that is asked of you is to deposit or cash the check and wire them the difference. You get to keep some money for your trouble.

Tips to avoid falling into a scam:

1. Without giving up details, ask for the full name of the caller to verify a family connection. Ask for sibling or other relative names.

2. Credible award programs will not ask you to send money before it can award something to you. You very well may have taxes owed, but those are going to be to the government, not to the awarding program.

3. Ask for help from your family to fully review information before you make any attempts to send money. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

4. In this "polite society" our culture does not to hang up on someone on the phone, but do it if there is any question in your mind. Do not try to debate or engage the caller in a lengthy discussion.

5. Remember - once the money leaves by Western Union, it's gone for good.