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David N. Kirkman
Task Force Alert Chair
Asst Attorney General
Consumer Protection
NC Department of
Justice
P.O. Box 629
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-716-6000

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North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services
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Residents of Assisted Living, Retirement Communities
Targeted by Con Artists

******Alert #210 ******

The Buncombe County Sheriff is warning citizens and businesses about costly scams that have targeted residents of assisted living facilities and retirement communities recently. Below is a message from Sheriff’s Detective Mike Davis describing the scams and some successful efforts by members of the community to stop them:

The most recent complaint was targeting a man and woman in a local retirement home. These two individuals in the care home have no relatives. The lady did not fall for the scam, however the man did. I was called by a worker because the man had been a previous victim and was about to fall for another scam. These particular scams are where the victim has won a prize/sweepstakes and needs to wire the taxes via Moneygram before the money can be released. Had a care giver not intercepted the scam, the gentleman would be a repeat victim. Another sweepstakes scam I had recently was a repeat victim. Husband and wife thoroughly believed that the scammer had a representative in Charlotte who would be flying in to Asheville and renting an Armored Car to bring their winnings to them (once they paid the taxes). I was contacted by their bank and I was able to talk with them before they took out a loan to use for the taxes ($5000.00). Now the care home and the couple are to contact me with any questionable material. We know that victims get put on a list and the information either sold or shared as to their having money.

Det. Mike Davis
Special Investigations Unit
Criminal Investigations Division
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office
202 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801

******End of Alert******

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