Tips to Avoid Scams
Consumer Protection & Fraud Prevention
The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office encourages residents to stay vigilant against scams. Use the following guidelines to protect your identity and your finances.
Phone Scams & Telemarketers
- Screen Your Calls: Use an answering machine or voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message; telemarketers rarely do.
- Use Caller ID: Avoid answering calls from numbers you do not recognize.
- The "Silent" Call: If you answer and there is a long silence before a person speaks, hang up immediately. This is a predictive dialer used by mass-call centers.
- Instinct Over Courtesy: You are not required to be "polite" to a stranger. If you aren't interested, or if you feel pressured, simply hang up.
Protecting Personal Information
- Never Share Sensitive Data: Do not provide credit card numbers, bank IDs, or Social Security numbers over the phone to anyone who called you.
- Verify Offers: Always insist on seeing an offer in writing before agreeing to anything. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
- Identity Safety: Ensure your Social Security number is removed from your driver's license and personal checks.
Contractor & Repair Safety
- Reputable Companies Only: Use well-established local businesses. Avoid "door-to-door" contractors who claim to have "leftover materials" from another job.
- Get It in Writing: Never allow repairs to begin without a written estimate and your explicit approval.
- Verify References: Check with the Better Business Bureau or ask for local references—and actually call them.
Modern Digital Safety (Added)
- Watch for "Smishing": Be leery of text messages claiming there is a problem with a package delivery or your bank account. Never click the links.
- Email "Phishing": Government agencies (IRS, Social Security Office) will not contact you via email or social media to demand money or threaten arrest.
- The Gift Card Scam: No legitimate business or agency will ever ask you to pay a bill or "fine" using retail gift cards. If they ask for a gift card, it is a 100% scam.
Sheriff's Office Quick Navigation Links
Tips to Avoid Scams
Consumer Protection & Fraud Prevention
The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office encourages residents to stay vigilant against scams. Use the following guidelines to protect your identity and your finances.
Phone Scams & Telemarketers
- Screen Your Calls: Use an answering machine or voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message; telemarketers rarely do.
- Use Caller ID: Avoid answering calls from numbers you do not recognize.
- The "Silent" Call: If you answer and there is a long silence before a person speaks, hang up immediately. This is a predictive dialer used by mass-call centers.
- Instinct Over Courtesy: You are not required to be "polite" to a stranger. If you aren't interested, or if you feel pressured, simply hang up.
Protecting Personal Information
- Never Share Sensitive Data: Do not provide credit card numbers, bank IDs, or Social Security numbers over the phone to anyone who called you.
- Verify Offers: Always insist on seeing an offer in writing before agreeing to anything. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
- Identity Safety: Ensure your Social Security number is removed from your driver's license and personal checks.
Contractor & Repair Safety
- Reputable Companies Only: Use well-established local businesses. Avoid "door-to-door" contractors who claim to have "leftover materials" from another job.
- Get It in Writing: Never allow repairs to begin without a written estimate and your explicit approval.
- Verify References: Check with the Better Business Bureau or ask for local references—and actually call them.
Modern Digital Safety (Added)
- Watch for "Smishing": Be leery of text messages claiming there is a problem with a package delivery or your bank account. Never click the links.
- Email "Phishing": Government agencies (IRS, Social Security Office) will not contact you via email or social media to demand money or threaten arrest.
- The Gift Card Scam: No legitimate business or agency will ever ask you to pay a bill or "fine" using retail gift cards. If they ask for a gift card, it is a 100% scam.
Sheriff's Office Quick Navigation Links