Local Residents Getting Scam Phone Calls

Local residents are getting scam phone calls, part of what is a nationwide effort to obtain information from credit card and debit card holders.

Dustin Reardon of the Effingham County Sheriff's Department said the department is getting calls from residents who've received the automated call, which indicates the residents' credit calls or debit cards are "locked down" and they have to give the information on their cards to get the cards re-activated.  Reardon said the automated calls are a "scam" and asked us to tell our listeners and readers to not give out any information.

Reports are that the effort is sweeping the nation from area code to area code.  Random calls are made for about a 24-hour period and then the calls move to another area code. Many of our Facebook and Twitter followers, some living out of state, but still using a 217-based cell phone, reported getting the calls. Some people also stated they received the same call multiple times.

If you have given out your information to the scammers, please contact your local sheriff's office or police station.  Otherwise, if you receive one of the calls, just hang up.