Police: Scammer targeting elderly

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Police and Morgan County Sheriff’s Office are warning residents about two separate scams targeting the elderly.
Lt. Justin Barley said the department has received several reports of a young, white heavy-set woman posing as a home health care or hospice employee targeting elderly people. Barley said she approaches residents at their home and once inside, begins going through their belongings and medication.
She was seen driving a small Ford truck.
Barley said she does not work for a home health care or hospice agency and should not be let inside your home. He advises people who receive these services to ask for identification if someone other than your regular provider approaches you.
If you have information on this case, call HPD at 773-6534.
In a separate incident, Sheriff Greg Bartlett said there is an on-going telephone scam aimed at senior citizens.
In once case, an Eva resident received three telephone calls in a 24-hour period from at least two different men. The men had a foreign accent and the calls came from an unknown name and number. The men told the person they needed her bank routing number and checking account number so that her Social Security check could be automatically be deposited in her bank.
Barlett said since her Social Security check was already being deposited automatically, she knew this was a scam. Bartlett said the suspects threatened to have her Social Security benefits terminated if she didn’t cooperate.
Bartlett said you should never give anyone her bank account, charge account or personal identifying information.