Genesee County Health Department Issues Phone Scam Warning

The Genesee County Health Department is issuing a warning to residents in the area about phone scams.

A health department representative says to be on the lookout for someone who calls claiming to be an employee of the department. The warning comes after a Genesee County resident informed them of a suspicious caller claiming to be a representative of the health department.

The Latest Phone Scam

According to WNEM-TV, the nature of the scam call was about a department grant that the caller claimed the resident was qualified to receive. But of course, the caller asked for the resident's banking information in order to apply for the grant.

The resident knew better - (s)he asked the caller for their name and badge number. That information wasn't provided, so the resident hung up and notified the Genesee County Health Department of the attempted scam.

GCHD Confirms the Call Was a Scam

A representative from the Genesee County Health Department tells the TV station that members of their staff will never call residents and ask for payment information.

Dr. Hackert is a medical health officer with Genesee County.

“If you receive a call and are unsure if it is a scam, ask the caller for their name, a return phone number and avoid sharing any personal information over the phone,” Dr. Hackert said. “Report suspicious behavior to the authorities.”

It's always a good idea to reinforce with elderly relatives and those who may be more vulnerable to scammers.

If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, notify your local police department.