By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine paid a visit to Bucyrus Monday afternoon as part of a stop to warn Ohio citizens about scams.
The event was part of a tour of libraries in Ohio that DeWine is visiting to help educate Ohio citizens, and in particular senior citizens, about fraud prevention.
“I’m going around to different libraries throughout the state and talking about consumer fraud. We pick the libraries, frankly, because they are a central point in the county in the community many times. ” DeWine said. “People don’t just come to libraries anymore to read.”
SAFE (Senior Advocate Fraud Education) toolkits were delivered to700 libraries in Ohio. The toolkit outlines various scams in writing, as well as a DVD presenting the materials.
Currently the Bucyrus Public Library has a few copies left and can be found in the community corner section.
DeWine asked Sheriff Scott Kent what trends in scam he has seen lately within the county.
“The worst I seen was the lottery scams in the mail. In order to get so much, you have to send a check to them.” Kent said. “Once the money is wired we aren’t able to recover it at that point.”
Bucyrus Police Chief David Koepke included that at a webinar that he had attended there was a program called, “It’s Not Rude to be Shrewd.”
“We need to encourage the seniors to not be overly polite, but encourage them to follow up with information,” Koepke said. “If anyone contacts them on the phone most especially they should be prepared to make a follow up phone call before they ever consider sharing information.”
Richard Carpenter asked the Attorney General if there was an e-mail address or phone number that that one could reach if they received a suspicious e-mail.
The Attorney General told Carpenter that there wasn’t but to be wary of suspicious e-mails and to call family and friends if a suspicious e-mail is sent from them to check it out.
Following visiting Bucyrus Public Library, DeWine travelled to Mount Gilead.