Licking County Crime Stoppers, along with its partners, are asking everyone to be cautious when dealing with random phone calls, text messages, and social media messages. and text messages. If someone unknown to you makes contact with you requesting money, crypto currency transfers, or gift cards, you should always be cautious of these types of requests. The people sending these requests typically have multiple stories that they use in order to steal from their victims.
These stories range from telling the receiving party they, or a family member, have a warrant for their arrest and that a "bond" must be paid in order to release the warrant to the more sophisticated schemes involving monetary investments. The common theme of those victimized over the years have usually involved the elderly, but recent reports have involved teenagers and young adults.
Unfortunately, these types of reports filed with local law enforcement have resulted in thousands, and in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars, being lost to unknown parties. So if you're contacted by someone you do not know, or even by some one who claims to know you or your family, and they are asking for some sort of payment from you, please be extra vigilant. The scammers have nothing but time.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam, reach out to your local law enforcement agency.
