Looking out for Scammers

Scammers have been targeting local hospitals in Young County and around the surrounding area. It is important that we educate the public about potential scams that can occur. The Federal Communications Commission offers a few tips—including being careful about replying to anything concerning your information and identification, never giving out social security numbers, passwords, family maiden names, and be sure to set passwords for voicemail services and accounts. A local Olney resident offers further details.

“Scams are happening in our community and we want to make our readers aware. Patients from the Archer Family Clinic have reported calls from phone numbers that come up on the caller ID as the phone number for the clinic and are being asked for their personal information. Because our patients trust our team at the clinic they are requesting to speak to the Nurse. At that point the line goes dead…they realize no information is going to be provided. This is called spoofing. Another incident occurred at a lady’s residence where they informed her that her social security number was being used in and around South Texas and they could connect them to someone that could remedy the problem. Lucky for the lady, she knew she was being scammed and immediately hung up the phone. A friend of ours got her email hacked and was asking for a favor. “Could you please go down and purchase a gift card for a friend and remove the codes so that it could be sent via email, and then proceeded to close the request with when (she) returns home they would be reimbursed.

These are just a few instances of what is happening in our little community. Please be aware of these scammer tactics and know:

The hospital or clinics would not ever call your home requesting any kind of personal information, because if you are an established patient you reported all of that information in the packets you are asked to fill out or provide prior to being seen in our facilities.

Next, people can search the white pages and see where you live or have lived. Sometimes scammers can dig deep into your private information just by Googling your name. Be very cautious when someone calls asking for personal information. It is referred to as PERSONAL INFORMATION for a reason. Keep it that way and if you feel alarmed or threatened hang up and call 911.

If we stick together, we can inform one another of this important information.

Finally, emails are getting hacked constantly, if you feel you are being hacked, just pick up the phone and call the person that sent it. DO NOT EVER SEND GIFT CARDS THRU EMAILS.

BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS!”