By Nicole Castrellon
Have you ever been the victim of a scam? Residents in Oglethorpe County are the latest to report attempts to misrepresent business dealings in our area.
The Georgia Department of Law, Consumer Protection Unit helps protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. Its website lists the following tips to avoid scams and more details on some of the most common practices and precautions.
Banking Scams:
- There are multiple banking scams but one of the most common is a telemarketer calling and telling you that you have won a prize or may qualify for a credit card
- Do not give your checking account information over the phone
- Do not respond to emails that ask for personal or account information
- Do not withdrawal large amounts of money at someone else’s request
Credit Card Scams:
- If someone contacts you saying that your account has been flagged for unusual activity and then proceeds to ask you for a security code, DO NOT give them the code
- A credit card company will never ask you to disclose the 3-digit number over the phone
- If this happens to you contact your credit card company, cancel your card, and request a replacement
IRS Scams:
- An email claims that the recipient is the subject of a criminal investigation and prompted to click a link that allows a hacker to take over that computer
- The IRS encourages anyone that receives this email to not open any of the attachments and to forward the email to phishing@irs.gov
Lottery Scams:
- People have received a letter and a check saying they have won an international lottery and to call a phone number before cashing a check where then personal information is asked
- Watch for an usual address on the envelope
- Do not give out personal information on the phone
