Sheriff Patrick Ray is issuing a warning to beware of a possible influx of summer scam artists in the area.
"I have had several phone calls within the last month about scams throughout the county,” Ray said. “Some of these scams consist of people calling and claiming to be credit card companies wanting to give the consumer a cheaper interest rate.
“What they do is try to get personal information from the person who they've called. Those who have called me have said they have not provided the callers any kind of information.
“In many cases the callers become hostile, if they don't get cooperation from the potential victim. Sometimes they will cuss them out and try to threaten them to provide the information.
“I just want to tell anybody who has received those phone calls that if this should happen again please don't provide any information.
“Tell the caller not to phone you again and to remove you from their call list. Then hang up. Don't give them any personal information such as your date of birth, social security number, check writing number, credit card number, or anything like that,” Ray continued.
“This time of year is when we see a lot of scams from people who are trying to get money from innocent people, especially the elderly.
“Sometimes they will call and say they are giving a senior discount if you will subscribe to their credit card or loan.
"We also have some people who are receiving lottery information through the mail. The mailing claims the recipient (would be victim) has won so much money through a lottery.
“The recipient  is instructed to cash a check the scammer has sent them at their own bank and then to wire back cash money.
“Those checks are no good,” the sheriff said.
“Those checks are mainly out of Canada and other countries. Don't try to cash those checks. If you get such a check, rip it up and dispose of it but don't cash it because it is a fake," Ray concluded.