JCSO Reports New Scams Targeting Vulnerable Community Members
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of two new scams targeting vulnerable people in the community. JCSO reports the victims included a mother of a runaway child and family members of a recently arrested Adult-in-Custody (AIC). In the first case, suspects obtained information from a social media post about a missing juvenile. They sent the family a video, possibly AI-generated, showing the child restrained in a chair, and demanded $1,500 or they would harm their family member. The video could only be viewed once, and the call originated from a Canadian phone number. The family quickly confirmed the juvenile was safe. This marks the second local scam of this kind in less than a month. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has tracked over 100 similar ransom scams since 2020. NCMEC tells families to allow authorities to create and distribute missing child posters and warns against including personal phone numbers or emails on self-made posters. In the second case, scammers called a family of a newly arrested AIC, impersonating a JCSO deputy. The scammer asked for $1,500 for bail and another $500 for an ankle monitor to secure the AIC’s release to a drug treatment program.
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JoCo Board of Commissioners to Tackle Department Business Heavy Workshop
After a quick Legal Counsel Update, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hear many Department Business presentations during Tuesday's workshop. The board will first hear an update on the Grants Pass Civil Air Patrol property, a confirmation of the Sheriff's certificate of sale, and authorization of the distribution of proceeds from the sale, plus a review of Quitclaim Deeds and Land Sale Contracts from the September Auction. The Sheriff's Office will then present the e-Citations Integration Program, Community Justice will go over the third contract amendment for Options for Southern Oregon, and the Recreation Department has an Engineering Services Proposal for Schroeder Park, as well as an agreement with SOU. Public Health will present the board with amendments to Oregon Health Authority Intergovernmental Agreements, and the Human Resources Department will have many Personnel Actions and Requisitions on their agenda to discuss.
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American Red Cross Begins Fire Prevention Week with House Fire Reminders
It's Fire Prevention Week, and the American Red Cross reminds everyone of the dangers of house fires. These claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes. For your home fire escape plan, everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home. Decide where to meet once you get outside, and then stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things. Make sure you place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test your alarms once a month, and change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it. Replace your smoke alarms if they are 10 years or older.
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