From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden:
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — We have had a lot of calls lately about scams
targeting the elderly. What the scammers do is send a message thru
Facebook, Facebook messenger or e-mail, but it will appear to be from one
of your friends. The friends accounts have been hacked and the victim’s
receive messages that they have won money but have to pay the taxes on
the winning amount. We have multiple victim’s send payment for alleged
taxes to fraudulent overseas accounts. Please talk to your family members
and make them aware that this is a scam and any taxes owed would be
paid directly to the I.R.S.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: “An honest
organization will not call, text or e-mail asking for any kind of personal
information. If you get an e-mail or a text asking you to click on a link and
you think it is legit, please call that company (from a phone number you
look up, not one they provide to you) BEFORE you clink on anything.”
“Please talk to your loved ones and encourage them to never give out any
kind of personal information unless they know exactly who they are talking
with.”
“God Bless!” Concluded Sheriff Welden.