Cowlitz County Sheriff's office issues phone scam alert

The scams are the typical one in which someone posing as government or financial officials who try to convince victims to give credit card or gift card numbers. Rosenzweig said the latest rash of calls is targeting residents of all ages.

“In fact, the ones which result in maybe the biggest losses I would say are people around the age of 50,” Rosenzweig said. “And they’re educated, working people. It’s not just the elderly.”

A common scam call might involve someone claiming to be from the power company threatening to shut off the victim’s electricity if they don’t make immediate payment. The scammer might ask people to buy a gift card from a department store to pay a “debt.” The scammer can then resell that gift card on the secondary market.

Rosenzweig said no government agency or financial institution will ever makes threats or ask for money over the phone. The sheriff’s office also warned residents to never give out credit card or gift card numbers over the phone to anyone they do not know and trust.

“If somebody’s threatening you, it’s probably a scam,” Rosenzweig said. “If they’re threatening you and demanding money, it’s definitely a scam.”

Citizens should only call the sheriff’s office if they actually lose anything in a scam, he said, but those who receive scam calls can report them anonymously online on the Sheriff’s office tip line.