Chase County not immune to scams

In this day and age more and more people are susceptible to scams. With technology advancing and everything moving to the cyber world, the playing field for hackers to collect personal and important information from individuals has risen to a whole other level.
Computer hacking and e-mail scams, known as phishing, are included among the risks when sharing information online.
Phishing is a method in which people are duped into providing their own personal data to a thief who is posing as a legitimate business or agency.
Chase County has had its fair share of scams, whether it was via e-mails, phone calls, letters or door-to-door salesmen.
Wanda Westfahl of Imperial is a prime example of what one should do if they are a recipient of a suspicious e-mail, letter, phone call, etc.
After receiving an e-mail from Walmart claiming that Westfahl had ordered something online, and needed to contact them immediately to ensure a successful arrival, she called Walmart’s official support phone number.
“I’ve only ordered something online from Walmart once, and it was many, many years ago. I just thought I had
gotten someone else’s e-mail, and wanted to make sure they got their package,” said Westfahl.
After talking to Walmart’s support operations, she was told it was indeed a scam and she had handled the situation properly.
Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller suggests using common sense in most situations.
Scams can offer a once in a lifetime investment opportunity or claim that a person has won an all inclusive vacation.
In June, a Wauneta woman received a letter claiming she had inherited a large sum of money from a long lost family member overseas.
“If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Mueller.
Despite the stereotype that older generations are more susceptible to scams, according to BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, millennials have now taken over that bracket.
BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust received surveys from 2,021 adults asking whether or not they had lost money to a scam in the previous year. About 30 percent of those age 25-34 were victims, while 10 percent of those were 55 and older.
“No one is immune. Never give out personal information over the phone, and always do research on any company that requires personal information,” said Mueller.