The Kenton County Police Department issued an announcement this week warning residents against what they described as “aggressive” scam calls.
“The scammer will push their potential victim not to hang up the phone, saying
unless the fine or amount due is paid immediately they will come to the person’s location in order to arrest them,” the announcement reads.
“New approaches include the scammer saying a ‘gag order’ has been issued by the judge and that the victim cannot tell anyone about the call because then the situation will be worse. They insist that you not hang up to prevent checking with the real agency!”
Scams targeting seniors are on the rise, with over 101,000 victims reporting losses of $3.4 billion in 2023. Scammers often rely on people’s ignorance of technology and emotional manipulation to get them to part with their information and money. To avoid scams, seniors should be aware of the common tactics used by scammers, such as pretending to be a tech support agent or a loved one. It is also recommended to cease communication if you suspect you’re talking with a scammer and to continue educating yourself on scams and technology. Learn more here.
How to spot senior scams
The announcement concludes by saying that law enforcement agencies and other official organizations will never call about missed jury duty, outstanding arrest warrants or unpaid fines. Likewise, agencies will never ask anyone to pay for something over the phone, whether using cash, checks, gift cards, credit cards, or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Contact the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection at (888)432-9257 to report scams.
