Residents continue to receive calls from thieves, posing as representatives of Sweepstakes, according to Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves.

"We continue to encourage everyone to be cautious about answering phone calls from unknown numbers because often times those calls are from thieves who are attempting to trick the person answering the phone into providing vital banking information, birth dates and social security numbers or money itself," stated Sheriff Groves.

"Recently I spoke with a resident, who fortunately was vigilant and immediately recognized the call as a scam, but reported the caller told her she won a sizable prize from a Sweepstakes since she shops at Wal-Mart and Walgreen's.  The thief wanted her to go to Wal-Mart and send a Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart money transaction to cover the taxes and once it was received, she would get the prize money and vehicle she supposedly won.  Again, fortunately she recognized the call as an attempt to steal money from her, but we want to take this opportunity to remind residents to be vigilant and not hesitate to hang up immediately on anyone who calls unsolicited and requests personal information or money," concluded Sheriff Groves.