KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WOWO) – The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to use caution when receiving calls from unknown numbers after the recent revival of “emergency scams.”

Scammers will present themselves as authority figures, explaining that a family emergency has occurred; the “emergency” can range from an arrest to hospitalization.

The perpetrators will usually first lay out a story, then seek financial aid. The monetary requests have been in the form of a wire transfer, online payment or gift cards.

If you receive an emergency scam call, the Federal Trade Commission recommends the following:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.
• Verify the person’s identity by asking questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer.
• Check the story with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
• Don’t wire money – or send a check or money order by overnight delivery.