Phone scams hitting the area

Recently a 71-year-old resident of Marengo County was scammed out of $10,000 from a caller claiming to be from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in Texas.

The caller said the woman’s Social Security card was found in a car loaded with drugs, and she had to pay a fine with a Target gift card or be arrested.

Sheriff Richard Bates said this phone scam and others similar to it upset people enough for them to comply with the caller’s demands.

“The DEA, IRS or local law enforcement will not ask for payments by gift cards,” Bates said. “Please do not give out any personal information by phone or electronic devices.”

Bates said if anyone is in doubt about a suspicious call to contact the local law enforcement office.