Sheriff's Office Warns of Popular Phone Scam

Authorities in McCracken County remind businesses and individuals to be on the lookout after a local business fell victim to a popular scam.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says a local business got a call from a person who said he was the chief financial officer for a corporation, and that the business he called was the subject of a counterfeit money investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The scammer demanded that the business place funds on Green Dot money cards, and call the scammer back with the numbers on the cards to transfer the counterfeit funds.

The business complied and sent nearly $1500 in money cards to the scammers.

The Sheriff's Department says this type of scam is quite common. They say Green Dot, iTunes cards, or other prepaid money are not used in day to day fund transfers in legitimate US businesses, nor are they used by US Government entities as payment for fines, levies, and debts owed.

They warn that if anyone approaches you online or by phone claiming to be with any corporation, US Government agencies, family members in distress, or any other circumstance, you should consider it a scam and contact your local law enforcement agency.