The Whispering Pines Police Department is alerting the Moore County community to beware of scammers who approach them with offers to put out pine straw on their properties.
This is not a new scam and has been reported up and down the east coast, said the police department in a statement.
Most often, the scammers will tell the property owner they were working in the area and have some pine straw left over. Giving the property owner what appears to be an excellent deal to put out a certain number of bales, then upon completion, they claimed they needed more pine straw than initially quoted and significantly increased the price. They then demand payment and often refuse to leave until paid.
The Whispering Pines Police Department received the first report of this type of scam in the area on June 1, and with the warmer months, these scams will increase, as seen specifically all over North Carolina and Georgia recently.
If you are approached by individuals selling pine straw in this manner, please use caution and contact your local police department or the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel Photographer Melissa Schaub.Â
Contributed.
