An area law-enforcement agency is alerting residents about scams.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office says with this being tax season, individuals and groups will once again attempt to defraud taxpayers and the U.S. government out of millions of dollars by using the latest techniques and technologies that range from the old school to the cutting edge.

This year is no different from years past. The scams continue to get worse and are not targeted for just certain age groups.

The department says it continues to get the same old scams about people owing the IRS money; someone in your family needing bail money to get out of jail because they have been arrested; or a member of your family has been involved in an accident, and the person in the hospital cannot be operated on until you send them money. The caller may tell you to go to your bank, withdraw money and they will meet you at an arranged location to get the money. Then you will get a large sum of money, as well as a car.

Another scam call is: you have a loved one who is arrested overseas, and in order to get him/her out of jail, this so-called “attorney” needs money sent to them to be able to represent your loved one; and to make arrangements to bond them out for even more money.

Another is: you have won lots of money, but you need to send them a money order or gift card before you can get your winnings.

The latest scam is to send money to someone claiming to know your family member and is threatening to do bodily harm if the money is not sent to them.

If you receive a phone call involving any of these scams, you should not give out any of your personal information or credit-card or bank-card information.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If the call involves questions about a family member, hang up immediately and contact your family to clear up any doubts.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.