By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Last week, the Great Bend Police Department released information on how a Rush County woman nearly lost $45,000 in cash because of a phone scam. The caller convinced the woman, in her 70s, the cash was needed to keep her out of trouble.
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The Great Bend UPS store became suspicious of the package with cash inside and eventually discovered the money. Police Chief Steve Haulmark said these scams, and many similar approaches, are a constant threat.
"I mention this again only because we've had several other scams recently," said Haulmark. "These folks that do this, that's their job and they're very good at it."
Great Bend police officers reviewed the UPS store’s video surveillance to identify the sender. Officials were able to return the woman’s money and prevent her from mailing another $20,000.
"Legitimate government agencies are not going to call anybody and demand money, particularly if they're asking something to be sent via cryptocurrency," said Haulmark. "That's not something we would ever do."