Elderly Woman Scammed Out of $300

On April 17, an officer went to a Branch Street residence where a son complained that his 81-year-old mother was the target of a scam.

The son said his mother received a call from a man about a month ago telling her that she had won the grand prize in a sweepstakes. The caller told her she needed to send in $300 before they would send her the money. She sent a money order as requested.

She recently received another call from the same man asking for more money. Citizens, particularly senior adults, should always be vigilant of phone calls, emails, or letters asking for money for sweepstakes winnings of contests they did not enter.

The police advise: Never send/wire money to persons you do not know. Never give out bank account, credit/debit card information, or social security numbers to unknown persons. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.