The body of Thomas Haskins was a day away from being cremated – and his closest kin didn’t even know he was dead.If you receive a phone call from someone who claims to be a relative traveling abroad in need of money, be wary that it could be a scam.
Noble County has recently seen multiple cases in which victims have lost thousands of dollars this way, according to the sheriff’s department.
The scammers, who target elderly residents, have posed as family members who need specific amounts of money wired to them in Mexico so they can be released from jail.
Some of the telephone calls have involved additional people on the line pretending to be officials.
The sheriff’s department said residents who receive such calls should take pains to make sure the person on the phone is actually a relative.
The department suggests contacting another family member who would know whether the relative allegedly on the phone is really outside the country.
