Bowling Green Residents Get Schooled on Scams

News Summary

The FBI held an awareness program at the Knicely Conference Center for Bowling Green residents, educating them about various scams, including cryptocurrency and romance fraud. Supervisor William Kurtz shared essential safety tips, urging people to stay vigilant against deceitful practices and to report suspicious activities. Local police highlighted the rise of scam messages claiming to be from the IRS and cautioned parents about calls claiming their children are in distress. The community is encouraged to stay informed to combat these ongoing threats.

Bowling Green Residents Get Schooled on Scams at FBI Awareness Program

In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, scams are popping up everywhere, and Bowling Green, Kentucky isn’t exempt. Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) brought together community members at the Knicely Conference Center, situated on the lovely campus of Western Kentucky University (WKU), to share some crucial knowledge about these deceptive practices. The aim? To combat the rising tide of fraud incidents that are catching unwary citizens off guard.

A Spotlight on the Scams

Supervisory Special Agent William Kurtz hosted the informative session, shedding light on the most common scams swinging through the region right now. Participants were introduced to various types of scams that have been making the rounds, including tricky schemes involving cryptocurrency, the ever-deceptive romance fraud, and the notorious impersonation scams.

Simple Tips to Stay Safe

To help folks stay one step ahead of deceitful schemes, Kurtz shared three essential tips that everyone can put to use:

• Don’t click on unknown links – If you don’t know where it’s from, keep your finger off that mouse!
• Avoid responding to messages from people you don’t recognize – If it’s legit, they won’t mind contacting you another way.
• Never send money to unverified individuals or businesses – Always meet in person or conduct a thorough check before completing any transactions.

If, unfortunately, you find yourself falling victim to one of these scams, it’s critical to take immediate action. Victims are encouraged to stop any further contact, cease transferring funds, and report the incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) right away.

Local Cautionary Tales

Scams are not just a far-off problem; they are evolving right here in Bowling Green. The local Police Department has been on high alert due to a particular scam using text messages that fraudulently claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These messages offer an enticing but completely bogus $1,400 economic impact payment. Residents are being urged to ignore the links included in such messages and never share their personal information with strangers.

But that’s not all! Reports have circulated about an unnamed individual allegedly selling candy on behalf of Upward Sports without proper authorization. The local Chamber of Commerce has stepped in to notify businesses, ensuring that everyone is on the lookout for these fraudulent sales attempts.

Parents Beware!

WKU Police Department has received complaints about scam phone calls where con artists pretend that a child has been detained. In these stressful situations, they instruct parents to send money for quick release, using fake names of officers to lend credibility to their scams. The police department urges parents to independently verify any claims involving their children before making any financial moves.

Melissa Bailey, the trustworthy public information officer at WKUPD, has stressed the importance of staying informed about these types of scams. Reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement is not only your responsibility; it helps keep the entire community safer.

Stay Informed, Stay Safe!

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Additional Resources

• WNKY: FBI Hosts Program on Scam Awareness in Bowling Green
• Wikipedia: Scam
• WNKY: Bowling Green Police Raise Awareness of IRS Scam
• Google Search: Scam Awareness
• Sentinel-Tribune: BG Community Warned of Candy Selling Scam
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Fraud
• WKU Herald: Scam Targets WKU Students, Parents Posing as WKUPD Officers
• Google News: Scams in Bowling Green

Author: HERE Bowling Green