Iredell County Sheriff Warns Of Scam Calls

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — Sheriff Darren Campbell is warning people in Iredell County there's a new scam call going around.

This one involves people getting a call or even a letter from people purporting to be tax collectors, a sneaky scheme during tax time.

Sheriff Campbell says the caller threatens to foreclose on the person's property, scaring them.

He is not tolerating it, and wants people to report it to the proper authorities if it happens to them.

If you have tax questions you may contact the Iredell County Tax Office at 704-878-3020. If you have been a victim contact the Iredell County Sheriff's Office at 704-878-3180.

The FCC advises the following tips to avoid scam calls:

• Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately.
• You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be aware: Caller ID showing a "local" number does not necessarily mean it is a local caller.
• If you answer the phone and the caller - or a recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes."
• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment.

Click here for more ways to report scam calls on the FCC 's website.