Residents fill library for latest UCSO Scam Class

“It makes me feel really good when I pull in for a parking spot and I have to park across the street,” Dyer admitted, referencing the fact that guests had to find nearby parking places at Positive Pathways and elsewhere since the library was so full.

Dyer revealed that fraud is the most prevalent crime in Union County, which is why the Sheriff’s Office hosts educational events like the Scam Class multiple times throughout the year – always free for the public to attend.

To combat fraud, Calamari uses the class to illuminate popular schemes criminals use to dupe particularly vulnerable citizens. Seniors are most often targeted, Calamari said, because they tend to have more money than younger people when accounting for Social Security and life savings.

Though there’s a variety of ways fraudsters go about finding victims, most rely on emotional manipulation to cause panic, which leads to impulsive decision-making.

Seniors are also at risk due to decreased cognitive functioning and being generally less technologically savvy; Calamari was quick to include himself in those categories to smooth over any perceived insult.

To give folks a leg up on any would-be financial tragedies, Calamari offered examples of scams common in Blairsville and across the country. Just like how caller identification can be spoofed, criminal organizations can also claim to be legitimate businesses through mail.

One tactic that has gained traction is for scammers to ask for money by lying about where the funds go.

Several residents have received supposedly charitable mail asking for donations to the Union County Sheriff’s Office or the Blairsville Police Department; actual law enforcement agencies will never directly ask for money, and often, the fine print on these requests reveals addresses in different cities or states altogether.

Another, dubbed by Calamari as the “pervert scam,” involves a letter sent to victims essentially blackmailing them. The author accuses the victim of looking at taboo content and threatens to tell others and ruin the “pervert’s” life if they don’t pay appropriate hush money.

Romance scams string victims along with a solely online relationship. The suitor gains the trust of the victim, sharing just enough details about a fabricated life until they inevitably begin asking for money. They may refuse to speak over the phone and favor stolen images of other people over getting on a webcam.

Following that pattern of preying on emotions, some fraudsters scan obituaries and target surviving spouses, claiming the family overpaid on funeral expenses; to receive those supposed extra funds, they just need the survivor’s bank account information to deposit compensation. Of course, victims find themselves drained instead.

Rising interest in digital currency has seen the increased use of machines like Coinstar, which scammers use to convert funds directly deposited by often-frightened victims. Gift cards, too, have become a popular medium for fraudsters to demand money from their targets.

For example, one scheme offers a job as a “spy” at Walmart. The hopeful applicant would have duties like quality-checking produce, examining bathroom cleanliness and gauging staff activity. Before they can receive a salary, however, they need to send off an initial fee in gift cards.

Calamari said that no legitimate business or organization will ever behave in this way.

Finally, a new scam called “brushing” has begun to crop up increasingly. Unrequested packages wind up on doorsteps, usually containing cheap items like bulk pens, balloons or seeds. This means the receiver’s name and address have been used to create fake five-star reviews to boost ratings of low-quality items to make other people want to buy them based on popularity.

The best way to handle the situation is to raise the alarm and bring the package to local authorities. It’s especially important to never keep unordered devices such as phones, which usually contain tracking apps that steal data and can lead to identity or monetary theft.

Due to the outstanding numbers at the last class, the next session will be at a different venue, and current options include the Union County Fine Arts Center or the Union County Community Center.

There is no set date, but Dyer promised it would be held “in the near future,” and Calamari expressed hope that it would happen “before the holidays.” Dyer hinted that the upcoming program would also include some insight into how the Sheriff’s Office operates.

On Aug. 26, the Union County Sheriff’s Office thanked the two tech companies involved in their efforts to help prevent more scams. Dyer surprised Ashley Conley of TechWizards and Cassie Gray of Tri-State Tech Support by presenting them with framed commendations.

“The efforts you have provided in helping the Sheriff’s Office in the protection of our elderly community have had a lasting impact and have not gone unnoticed,” Dyer wrote as part of the letter. “Please know that the citizens of our community appreciate all of your support for your hard work and steadfast dedication to service.”