By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Pawnee County Sheriff Scott King took time to remind all citizens to be on the lookout for common scams. King said oftentimes an unknown person will contact a potential scam victim via telephone or email, claiming to be with law enforcement, Social Security, IRS or Sweepstakes.
The sheriff suggests for residents to simply hang up the phone.
"We try to provide education for people," said King. "Be cautious. If you don't think it's right then just hang up."
King recalled going to the post office in Larned and a woman standing in line was telling him how she had to send $1,200 cash to someone that called her. King said sometimes the older generation’s kindness hurts them, trying to help everyone.
"Some of the older citizens don't want to be rude," said King. "They don't want to hang up the phone because they still have the landline. Someone's been able to get their number out of the phone book. The last sorority I talked to I told them to just hang up. They looked a little sheepish like we just don't know how to hang up."
Never send money to others using online payment systems unless they are your friends or family. King encouraged citizens to contact law enforcement if they have been a victim of a scam.