BENTON COUNTY — Fundraising scam

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office recently received information regarding several fundraising scams.

The only solicitation the Benton County Sheriff’s Office is involved in pertains to the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association annual fundraising drive.

A deputy will accompany a representative of the association, in person, seeking financial support from area businesses to help fund drug and alcohol programs in our schools, as well as the Arkansas Sheriff’s Ranch programs that provide a home, stable environment and education to at-risk children in the state.

Citizens are encouraged to call the BCSO if they are contacted by anyone representing themselves as raising funds for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Car seat check-up event

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and the Wal-Mart Supercenter at Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers will be hosting the 11th annual Child Passenger Safety Seat Check-up Event from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, March 27, in the northwest corner of the parking lot of the Pleasant Grove Road store.

Nationally certified child seat technicians from several area law enforcement agencies will be on hand to check installations, recalls and provide seats as needed. Parents and caregivers are urged to get there early, as a large crowd is expected.

Parents must have the child with them, as well as the vehicle the seat is to be installed in. Seats will be on a first come, first served basis.

Benton County Sheriff Keith Ferguson’s Office purchased $15,000 worth of car seats through donations form Wal-Mart and grants from the State of Arkansas for this year’s event in a continuing effort to help keep area children safe.

A national statistic indicated eight out of 10 childseats installed by parents are installed incorrectly.

Come by and have nationally certified technicians make sure your child is properly secured and safe.

Jury duty scam

The phone rings, you pick it up and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he will need some information for verification purposes - your birth date, social security number and maybe even a credit card.

This is when you shouldhang up the phone, it’s a scam.

Jury scams have been around for years, but have seen a resurgence in recent months. Communities in more than a dozen states have issued public warnings about cold calls from people claiming to be court officials seeking personal information. As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone, they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail.

Benton county Sheriff Keith Ferguson reminds citizens protecting yourself is the key. Never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited phone call.

On the Record, Pages 3 on 03/24/2010