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The True Citizen, Wednesday, February 10, 2021 — Page 7 A
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R
E RECORD
Valentine Day
Scams
KELVIN COLLINS
With Valentine’s Day just
days away, the Better Business
Bureau advises people looking
to start new relationships to
watch out for romance scams.
This is a scheme wherein un
scrupulous individuals look to
defraud people by pretending
to be a love interest and play
ing on emotions for their own
financial gain. This type of
scam usually occurs via email
or social media but can also
happen through established on
line dating services. Romance
scams are a double whammy,
they hit victims financially and
emotionally, and the conse
quences are often devastating.
Romance schemes can target
anyone, but often target older
individuals, those who are
new to the Internet or not as
tech-savvy. The relationship
generally develops online or
over the phone, when people
either respond to fake online
profiles or are contacted by
a scammer in response to an
ad they posted. Conversations
begin online and things can
progress quickly, which is why
it’s important to take things
slow. Scammers prey on emo
tion and they’re good at telling
people what they want - or
hope - to hear.
A huge red flag for people
seeking relationships online is
any request for funds. Some
times scammers who have
struck up virtual relationships
will ask for money to buy an
airplane ticket, so the couple
can “finally” meet. However,
these requests are nothing more
than a gateway to further re
quests, as the scammer comes
up with reasons they can’t
make the trip, such as an ill
ness , a sick relative or suppos
edly losing their job. A good
rule is to never send money
to someone you’ve never met
in person. Another good rule
is to remember that someone
who cares about you will not
ask you to place yourself in
financial jeopardy for them or
put you in a difficult position.
People going online or using
online dating services to meet
romantic interests should be
leery of:
• Pressure to leave the dating
site. They want you to leave the
dating site immediately and
use personal e-mail, text or IM
accounts.
BURKE COUNTY JAIL BOOKINGS
FEB. 1-7
Selena
Guajardo, 23
Ridge Court,
Augusta
WPD, Feb. 7
Battery
Anthony Dequan
Lawson, 21
Lee St., Waynesboro
BCSO, Feb. 3
Bench warrant-
misdemeanor
Joseph Thomas
Jackson, 48
Forrest Dr.,
Hephzibah
BCSO, Feb. 7
Porbation violation-
felony
Reginald Deon
Lakes, 38
Columbia St.,
Augusta
BCSO, Feb. 5
Criminal trespass-
family violence
Amanda Lee
Hughes, 38
GA Hwy 17 North,
Wrens
BCSO, Feb. 5
Possession ofmeth-
amphetamine
James Alan
On ley, 44
Keys Lane,
Hephzibah
BCSO, Feb. 4
Superior court jail
sanction
Felicia Ann
Newton-Randall, 39
GA Hwy 17 East,
Midvi/le
BCSO, Feb. 6
Failure to maintain
lane; DU7-driving
under the influence
(alcohol)
Willie Eugene
Woods, 53
Magnolia Acres,
Waynesboro
BCSO, Feb. 2
Possession of a
schedule it con
trolled substance
*acetaminophen &
Oxycodone Hydro
chloride
KeondraTanay
Golden, 36
Quaker Road Drive,
Waynesboro
WPD, Feb. 7
Safekeeping for
Reynolds PD; FTA-
traffic offense
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Tyler Allen
Sturgill, 24
Wrightsboro Road,
Augusta
BCSO, Feb. 7
Probation violation-
misdemeanor;
simple battery-family
violence safekeep
ing for Richmond
County SO;
Tykia Jameel
Walker, 25
Pine Trails Drive,
Waynesboro
WPD, Feb. 5
A ggravated assault;
cruelty to children-
3rd degree-allow
child to witness
forcible felony/bat
tery/family violence
(2 counts)
Jennie Lynn
Saunderdeanor
Veshawn
Saxon, 36
Tereshkova
Dominique
Johnson Road,
Hogues, 45
Cooper, 29
Sardis
Hate St.,
Pine Trails Drive,
BCSO, Feb. 7
Waynesboro
Waynesboro
Criminal trespass;
WPD, Feb. 1
WPD, Feb. 6
safekeeping for
Simple battery-
Possession of
Screven County SO;
family violence
a firearm by a
probation violation
Cruelty to children
convicted felon;
(possession of drug
in the 3rd degree-
probation violation-
related objects)
family violence (3
counts)
felony
Jonathan Steven
Shelton, 29
McCombs Road,
Hephzibah
BCSO, Feb. 4
Accountability court
sanctions
Meeks, 43
Rocky Branch
Road, Sylvania
BCSO, Feb. 2
Criminal use of an
article with altered
ID mark (2 counts);
theft by receiving
stolen property-
firearm-felony (3
counts); possession
of a firearm by a
convicted felon (5
counts); burglary in
the 1st degree; theft
by taking-firearm-
felony; parole
violation (burglary
in the 2nd degree);
safekeeping for
Jenkins County SO;
theft by receiving
stolen property
DISCLAIMER NOTICE: ALL ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW
AGENCIES
BCSO: Burke County Sheriff’s Office;
WPD: Waynesboro Police Department;
GSP: Georgia State Patrol;
MPD: Midville Police Department;
SPD: Sardis Police Department;
DOC: Department of Corrections
DNR: Department of Natural Resources
1022 N. Liberty St., Waynesboro - 706-551-0876
• Hasty expressions of love.
They express instant feelings
of love, although they have
very little knowledge of you.
• Claims of citizenship. They
claim to be from the United
States, but currently are over
seas, deployed or on assign
ment elsewhere.
• Sudden major expenses.
They ask for money to pay
for travel, medication, hos
pital bills, recovery from a
temporary financial setback or
expenses while a big business
deal comes through.
• Change of plans. They plan
on visiting, but unexpectedly
are prevented by a traumatic
event or a business deal gone
sour. Some may also say they
have been called out of the
country for business or military
service.
• Requests for money. They
make multiple requests for
more money. They may even
test you and ask for a little at
first and then continue to ask
for larger amounts.
For those in search of love
online, BBB offers the follow
ing tips:
• Never wire money or send
gift card account numbers. It
is difficult to impossible to get
money back from people who
may be misrepresenting them
selves once it has been sent.
• Put safety first. Remember
that all personal information
provided will be made avail
able for all those on the site to
see. Avoid putting too much
personal information on your
profile, such as home address,
work information or telephone
number.
• Take the time to research
individuals. If you see any red
flags in your communication
with someone, search his or her
name through search engines
and on social media sites. Copy
and paste portions of your
emails into search engines to
see if they have been associated
with past scams.
Many romance scams never
get reported because of the
victim’s embarrassment but it
is important to remember that
these scammers have been
perfecting this con for many
years and over time, they have
gotten very good at their trade.
Read more about Romance
Scams in BBB's study "How
Scammers Use Impersonation,
Blackmail, and Trickery to
Steal from Unsuspecting Dat-
ers."
Kelvin Collins is President/
CEO of the Better Business
Bureau serving the Fall Line
Corridor, serving 77 coun
ties in East Alabama, West
Georgia, Southwest Georgia,
Central Georgia, East Georgia
and Western South Carolina.
This tips column is provided
through the local BBB and
the Council of Better Business
Bureaus. The Better Busi
ness Bureau sets standards
for ethical business behavior,
monitors compliance and helps
consumers identify trustwor
thy businesses. Questions or
complaints about a specific
company or charity should be
referred directly to the BBB at
Phone: 1-800-763-4222, Web
site: BBB.org or E-mail: info®
centralgeorgia .bbb .org
BURKE EMA REPORT
The Burke County Emergency Management Agency re
sponded to 303 patients’ calls during the three week period
ending Feb. 7.
Of those, 207 resulted in transports, including 99 to Au
gusta hospitals and four to other out-of-county hospitals .118
of the transports were determined to be emergencies and 89
were non-emergent.
The agency also answered 58 fire calls during the period.
The included five brush/grass fires, two authorized controlled
burns, three fire/smoke alarms, two woods fires, two vehicle
fires, 26 rescues, one motor vehicle accident rescue, two
structure fires, one power line down, eight pulic service calls
and six unspecified calls.
CASH!!!!
Junk Cars
We pick up TODAY!
CALL 803-300-1234
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