EPHRATA - If it looks or sounds too good to be true, Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones says it probably is and should be avoided.

Jones is warning the public to be wary of suspicious phone calls or emails seeking personal information or requesting money.

"Highly sophisticated scam artists use phone calls and email to bilk millions of dollars out of people around the country each year and local residents aren't immune to these scams," he stated.

The sheriff's office receives scam reports all year round, but Jones said the incidents seem to pick up in the early spring as people start receiving tax returns.

"More often than not, there isn't much law enforcement can do because the scams often originate overseas or are extremely difficult to trace," he stated; adding the best protection is a person's own wits. "Self-protection, by being skeptical, can help prevent loss of hard-earned money."

The sheriff offered several examples of common scams.

The ubiquitous "Nigerian scheme" requests victims to deposit money before wiring a percentage back to the scammer, often originating out of Nigeria, while the "Lottery/Sweepstakes" scam reels people in with the promise of a big winnings check if the "winner" wires a required fee back, often to Canada.

Other scammers target the elderly, Jones said, such as an increasingly common ploy involving a call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in distress who requests money be wired immediately.

Other senior citizens receive phone calls from people claiming to be with Medicare or from the "health office," offering supplemental health insurance or prescription coverage in exchange for personal information.

Jones encouraged anyone believing they have been the victim of a scam to contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office at 509-754-2011 ext. 468, or send an email to crimetips@co.grant.wa.us.