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New scam circulating locally

By Greg Bebermeyer

04/05/2024

( KNZA)--Brown County Sheriff John Merchant is alerting residents about a new scam that is circulating in the area that's targeting quite a few people.

Residents are being contacted by phone and e-mail telling them that they have been awarded a grant. A grant ID number is provided along with a phone number. Residents are being promised different amounts of "FREE MONEY" if they will just call the phone number and enter the GRANT ID number.

When the number is called, residents are being instructed to provide their bank account information so the "FREE MONEY" can be transferred in to their account.

A heavy foreign accent has been reported on these calls.

Merchant says they have also had reports that residents are receiving calls from someone identifying themselves as the IRS, with the caller ID showing IRS.

The caller informs residents that they were shorted on their income tax refund and is asking for their bank account information so the money can be direct deposited.

Merchant says this is a scam as the IRS will NEVER contact you by phone.

So far, he says no one has been made a victim of either scam.

Merchant reminds resident to never give out your personal information over the phone or internet. In addition, he reminds residents to never trust their caller ID to identify a caller as scammers can make any name or number appear on your caller ID.

If you feel you have been made a victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement at once.

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