Scam & Fraud Protection

Scammers use telephone calls, text messages, emails, social media, mail, and even personal visits to create fear, urgency, or excitement. Their goal is to pressure you into sending money or revealing personal information before you have time to think.

Silver Shield is a partnership between the Pinehurst Police Department and the Pinehurst Senior Advisory Committee. It provides practical information to help residents recognize scams, respond safely, limit losses, and report suspicious activity.

Scams can happen to anyone. There is no reason for embarrassment—and acting quickly can make a difference.

Do You Need Help Right Now?

I Think This May Be a Scam

Before sending money or providing information:

Stop. Do not respond, click a link, download anything, or make a payment.
End the conversation. Hang up, close the message, or ask the person to leave.
Do not trust caller ID. Telephone numbers and names can be falsified.
Verify independently. Contact the person or organization using a telephone number you already know or find on an official website, statement, or card.
Talk to someone you trust. A family member, friend, bank employee, or police officer can provide a second opinion.
Contact the Pinehurst Police Cybercrime Hotline at 910-420-1654 for help evaluating a suspicious online interaction or possible scam.

Legitimate organizations will allow you time to verify a request. Pressure to act immediately is a major warning sign.

I Already Sent Money or Information

Act promptly, but do not panic.

Contact your bank, credit-card issuer, payment service, gift-card company, wire-transfer service, or cryptocurrency platform immediately.
Explain that the transaction was connected to fraud.
Ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
Change affected passwords from a secure device.
Save receipts, messages, emails, telephone numbers, account information, and other evidence.
Contact the Pinehurst Police Department or the Pinehurst Police Cybercrime Hotline.
Report the incident to the appropriate state and federal fraud-reporting agencies.
If personal information was shared, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan.

The Federal Trade Commission provides additional guidance based on how money or information was transferred. Review What to Do if You Were Scammed.

Remember: Stop, Question, Verify and Report

Stop

Do not let urgency, fear, excitement, or embarrassment force an immediate decision. Hang up, close the message, or step away.

Question

Ask why the person contacted you, what information they already have, and why payment or personal information is supposedly required.

Verify

Use a trusted telephone number, official website, account statement, or another independent source. Never use a link or number supplied by the suspicious person.

Report

Tell your financial institution, law enforcement, and the appropriate reporting agency. Reporting suspicious activity—even when no money was lost—may help police identify local scam trends and protect others.

Common Warning Signs

Be especially cautious when someone:

Demands immediate action
Threatens arrest, deportation, account closure, utility disconnection, or loss of benefits
Says a family member is in trouble and asks you to keep it secret
Requests payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, cash, or gold
Asks for a password, PIN, Social Security number, or one-time verification code
Claims you won a prize but must pay taxes or fees first
Offers guaranteed investment returns or unusually high profits
Asks to access your computer or telephone remotely
Sends an unexpected link, attachment, invoice, or QR code
Insists that you move money to a “safe” or “protected” account
Claims to represent law enforcement or government but demands payment by telephone
Discourages you from speaking with family, your bank, or police

No legitimate government agency or law-enforcement officer will require payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, cash delivery, or gold.

Explore Silver Shield Resources:

Recognize & Avoid Scams

Learn the common warning signs, how to verify suspicious requests, and practical ways to protect your telephone, email, financial accounts, and personal information.

Common Scams

Review how family-emergency, government-impersonation, Medicare, investment, romance, contractor, technology-support, and other common scams operate.

What to Do After a Scam

Follow step-by-step guidance if you sent money, disclosed personal information, clicked a suspicious link, or allowed someone to access your device.

Report Fraud

Find local, state, and federal reporting resources for financial fraud, identity theft, cybercrime, and suspected exploitation of an older or disabled adult.

Report a Scam or Suspicious Activity

Immediate Danger

Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger, a crime is in progress, or a suspicious person is at your home and refuses to leave.

Pinehurst Police Cybercrime Hotline

Call 910-420-1654 to report suspicious online activity, concerning interactions, possible account takeovers, or an ongoing scam.

Pinehurst Police detectives monitor the hotline during normal work hours and will make every effort to contact callers within the same business day. Detectives can help assess suspicious activity, intervene when possible, connect victims with appropriate resources, and refer reports to state or federal agencies.

The hotline is not monitored continuously and should not be used for emergencies. Call 911 when immediate assistance is needed.

Pinehurst Police Department

For other non-emergency police assistance or to report suspected fraud, call the Pinehurst Police Department at 910-295-3141.

Federal Trade Commission

Report attempted or completed fraud through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reports help the FTC identify patterns, warn consumers, and support enforcement efforts.

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

Report internet-enabled fraud, cybercrime, account takeovers, and similar offenses through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

Identity Theft

If someone used or obtained your personal information, visit IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and create a recovery plan.

Suspected Abuse or Exploitation

If you are concerned that an older or disabled adult is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, contact the local Department of Social Services. North Carolina Adult Protective Services receives and evaluates reports involving disabled adults who may need protection.

Call 911 if there is immediate danger.

One Final Rule

If someone tells you not to discuss a financial request with your family, bank, attorney, or police, that is your signal to discuss it with all four.