Police Warn of Scammers Using Social Media

A local resident has fallen victim to a scam on Facebook.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says a woman reported that she had become friends with a man on Facebook who said he worked on an oil rig. At some point, the man said he intended to purchase a home near Kentucky Lake. To facilitate this, he asked the woman to send money to a courier using MoneyGram and Western Union, and he would then send large amounts of money back to her. The woman became suspicious after sending about $13,000 and the man said the courier still needed more money.

The Sheriff's Department warns everyone that these scams are becoming more prevalent, and scammers are getting more savvy. They remind everyone that if something appears to be "off," it probably is. They encourage anyone who is suspicious of a potential scam to contact law enforcement before sharing personal details or sending money to anyone they do not know.