FORT PAYNE, Alabama (WDEF) – A northeast Alabama Sheriff warns about Facebook scams targeting the elderly.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden says they have gotten a lot of calls lately about this type of scam.
he says the scammers send a message through Facebook, Facebook messenger or email that looks like it came from one of your friends.
They say their account has been hacked.
They have gotten messages that they have won money but have to pay taxes on it before getting the money and they can’t do it now themselves. So could you send the money?
The Sheriff says more than one person has sent money to fake overseas accounts.
he asks anyone to talk to your family members about the scam.. and any taxes owed need to go straight to the IRS.
“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.”
