Scammers at work 24/7/365

Unscrupulous individuals who use the telephone to try to cheat the law-abiding public out of their money are working around the clock.  And Jimmy Watt of the Oconee Sheriff’s Office says that means scammers are plying their illegal craft 24/7/365, and the public must stand on guard.  Watt, the public information officer, appealed today to the media for ideas on how better to raise awareness of how the unsuspected can fall victim—such as last week when one Oconeean surrendered $9,500 to a caller with a sob story about covering a bond and the cost of a defense attorney.  These scammers, according to Watt, constantly try to play on people’s emotions, but their intent is to cheat you.  At times, they’ll even invoke the name of a legitimate business to help their cause.  One telltale sign is they pressure you to send money through a pre-paid card.  “They always want money,” Watt said.