North Carolina Phone Scam Targets Families Of Prison Inmates
Just when you thought phone scammers couldn’t reach a new low, this happens. Reports have recently come in of a new North Carolina phone scam specifically targeting the families of prison inmates.
According to a news release by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, scammers are now contacting family members of incarcerated individuals and feeding them a bogus promise that their family member can be released early under certain conditions. These conditions include the inmate being fitted with an ankle monitor and, as you may have guessed, a hefty fee that they say is going to the NC Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission.
The Department stresses that these calls are completely, 100 percent fake. The Commission will NEVER accept money in exchange for early release or for any other reason. If you have a friend or family member who is in prison and you receive a call like this, do not send them any money or provide them with any personal or banking information.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of one of these scam calls you are also encouraged to report it to the NC Attorney General’s Office. You may do so either by filing a general consumer complaint online, or by calling (877)-5-NO-SCAM.
In addition to avoiding scams over the phone, you should also be wary of internet scams and cyberattacks. You can practice safe internet habits like activating multi-factor authentication for your accounts, regularly updating your software, using strong and complex passwords, and using good, sound judgment online.
As is the case with phone and internet scams, it helps to trust your gut more often than not. If it feels like something fishy is going on, it likely is. One good rule of thumb I’ve learned is to never offer personal or banking info to a business that called you first. If you didn’t contact them first, it would behoove you to proceed with extreme caution.