AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — The Avery County Sheriff's Office is warning people of a new scam that's making the rounds on social media.
The sheriff's office says five fake pages on Facebook are asking people for money to livestream the Greene family funeral. However, investigators say the funeral will not be streamed to the public and the family isn't seeking any donations.
Deputies are currently following leads into who's responsible for these pages. Anyone who donated to these accounts is asked to call the sheriff's office at 828-737-0134 immediately.
No further details were provided by Avery County officials.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
Emotional appeal - Any pitch that ratchets up your emotion will inhibit your rational judgment.
Sense of urgency - You MUST act now, or else.
Request for unorthodox payment - Gift cards, prepaid credit cards, wire transfers, etc.
Explanations that don't ring true - If your new “landlord” can’t show you the inside of the house, that could be because they don’t own it.
You won, now pay up - It’s not a prize if you have to pay for it. Taxes, fees, shipping, whatever.
Too good to be true - That’s because it’s not true. Sorry, your long-lost relative didn’t die, leaving you millions. That car you bought online for a third of its Kelly Blue Book value doesn’t really exist. The son of a billionaire diamond broker didn’t “swipe right” on you and fall instantly in love. That work-at-home job paying you hundreds of dollars an hour for stuffing envelopes isn’t real.