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KPD warns citizens of ongoing phone scams

Scammers are at it again, targeting the elderly population in Kimball, according to the Kimball Police Department.

Katherine Terrill, longtime KPD dispatcher, said that between her department and the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office more than 30 complaints have been logged.

One scam includes a caller claiming to be from the IRS. The caller begins threatening the party with jail over a sum of money.

The Kimball Police Department warns citizens that the IRS will not call asking to verify information over the phone, nor will they request payment over the phone.

A second scam has also been reported in which a caller claims to be a relative, often a grandchild, who has been arrested and needs a large sum wired immediately for bail money.

Often the caller will use the real name of the party’s relative, though Terrill said she is unsure how scammers get that information.

Unfortunately, many citizens fall victim to these calls and there is little that local authorities can do.

The Kimball Police Department encourages everyone to share this information with family members, particularly older family members and further encourages anyone who receives these kinds of calls to hang up, report the call on the website, http://www.identitytheft.gov and do not answer calls from those numbers again.

 
 
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