Don't get too many these days. Unless it's a number I recognize or is in my address book I let it go to voicemail no matter what. We do have fun when my daughter is home. She is fluent in Spanish and a couple Arabic dialects. We let her take those calls.

I have not received an IRS call, but have been getting calls that begin this is Joe from Customer Service. I say nothing then he says we are offering you a free cruise. I hang up. Happens about once a week. The other is this is (credit card name) there is nothing wrong with your credit card but... In don't know the rest because I hang up.

If you get a call from someone you don't want to call you, tell them to remove your number from their calling list. If it is a robocall, hit either the number 2 or the number 9 on your phone and it will automatically remove you from their list

If you fall for a scam like that, well....

 

If you have an older person you are caring for Deuce that can be left alone for a few hours, it's always a worry. You want them to have access to a phone so you can check on them while you're away but you always worry about them being suckered by such calls.

Just now on Facebook from the Boone County SO:

 

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office and our dispatch center, Public Safety Communications Center (P.S.C.C.), has been inundated with calls from people concerned about telephone calls they’re receiving from impostors claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) telling them they owe money and unless they purchase gift cards as payment they will be arrested.

 

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office asks residents to simply take a few minutes and think it through when presented with questionable/suspicious encounters; legitimate government organizations, i.e. I.R.S. & Sheriff’s offices, do not threaten people with a warrant and then insist on staying on the phone with them while they drive to the store to purchase gift cards only to have the victim provide the caller the number on the card which they then cash immediately.

 

Keep in mind; the scammers are only limited by their imaginations. They can always add a twist to an existing ruse or simply create a new one. What they have in common is they count on catching the victim unprepared and impress upon them the urgency of their actions or face dire consequences AND their methods are diametrically opposed to conventional business and government models.

 

Our suggested remedy is to simply hang up on them. If you believe there is a chance it could be valid, obtain a name and phone number and tell them you’ll call them back after you check them out. Contact your local law enforcement agency to assist you in determining the legitimacy of the call.

More from the Boone County SO:

 

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of scams and attempted scams within the last few days wherein a caller identifies himself as a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy and informs the victim they have an arrest warrant for missing a grand jury assignment. The impostor goes on to tell the victim they are receiving the courtesy call because they are a good citizen. The victim is instructed to purchase a “secured voucher” and bring it to the Sheriff’s Office located at 3000 Conrad Lane in Burlington, KY. (accurate address).

 

The victim is kept on the phone while they drive to the store and purchase the “secured vouchers” which are simply rechargeable gift cards. Once that is accomplished the impostor tells the victim they need not drive out to Burlington if they just scratch off the strip on the back of the card and convey the hidden number which entitles the caller to immediately redeem the amount.

 

Admittedly, certain aspects of the scam ring true and we can understand why some people are taken by it. However, Sheriff Michael A. Helmig needs everyone to understand that no matter how convincing the caller may be, it is a SCAM! Sheriff Helmig asks if you receive a call from someone identifying themselves as a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy asking you to purchase “secured vouchers” or any kind of gift cards to immediately disconnect the call and notify our dispatch center at (859) 371-1234. Sheriff Helmig reminds everyone that if they have an arrest warrant issued for them they can expect a face-to-face encounter with a deputy, not a courtesy call.

 

Facebook

Anybody elses phone been blowing up the last few days. Today I have had 16 calls so far.

I haven't had any in about a week.

Are these all land lines calls you guys are getting?

 

I have been getting them on my cell phone. It's odd because I never give out my cell number except to friends and family. I didn't want it on some list sold to people. Any time I order something I always use my land line number. I get tons of annoyance calls on that phone. Thought I was saving myself the hassle of getting calls like this, but I guess not.

I have been getting them on my cell phone. It's odd because I never give out my cell number except to friends and family. I didn't want it on some list sold to people. Any time I order something I always use my land line number. I get tons of annoyance calls on that phone. Thought I was saving myself the hassle of getting calls like this, but I guess not.

 

Robo dialers can dial millions of number combinations very quickly. Even if you don't answer if your VM picks your numbers gets flagged as active and the parade of calls can begin. Even something as simple as having your cell number in your email signature can get your number mined.