Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Warns Citizens of Potential Scam Involving Pharmacy Delivery Service
Submitted By: Master Deputy Jimmy Watt
Public Information Officer
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing an advisory today regarding a potential scam involving a pharmacy delivery service.
Late yesterday afternoon, a deputy spoke with a citizen who said that she received a call on her phone from a woman who claimed to be from a pharmacy delivery company. The caller had the citizen’s name, address and phone number, but the caller was attempting to obtain bank account and other personal information in order to set up a mail order medicine delivery.
The deputy obtained the number the caller called from and returned the call, whereupon a man answered the phone. The deputy identified herself and the man gave them a name of a company, however, the deputy could not find a matching business online. The deputy also discovered that the number was registered through a cell phone provider. The citizen did not provide any information to the caller.
“We are issuing this advisory outside of our normal monthly scam update due to the fact that many of our citizens take prescribed medication and some may be looking for a solution of having medication delivered due to health or COVID-19 reasons,” says Master Deputy Jimmy Watt, Public Information Officer for the Sheriff’s Office. “This particular situation raises a few red flags, especially when someone contacts you and asks for banking account and personal identifying information unsolicited. We always advise our citizens never to release financial and personal identifying information to anyone unless you initiate the contact with a business, organization or agency. People you do business with should have that information anyway. Also, if you are interested in maybe receiving your prescriptions via mail, talk to your doctor or your pharmacy to obtain more information.”
Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw would like to remind Oconee County citizens of the free prescription delivery initiative that began in April for citizens who meet the following criteria:
• Any Oconee County citizen age 60 or older
• Any Oconee County citizen, regardless of age, who is taking chemotherapy or cancer treatments
• Any Oconee County citizen, regardless of age, who is quarantined due to COVID-19
“The Sheriff’s Office began this initiative, for those who meet the criteria, for two reasons. First, due to COVID-19 concerns, and secondly, for those citizens affected by the April 13th tornado where travel conditions were difficult, especially in the Seneca area,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “Even though we have seen businesses starting to reopen and some of the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the Sheriff’s Office is still offering this program for those who meet the criteria and we encourage those who may be interested to call us if they still have any questions or would like to sign up.”
Sheriff Crenshaw says that all pharmacies in the county, with the exception of the Walmart pharmacy in Seneca and Seneca Pharmacy, are participating in this program. The Walmart pharmacy will not be able to participate in the initiative due to corporate regulations, according to Sheriff Crenshaw. Seneca Pharmacy will not be able to participate due to regulations of not being a pharmacy set up for delivery.
Listed below are some guidelines regarding Prescription Medication Delivery and Pharmacy Guidelines as well:
Prescription Medication Delivery Guidelines
• Qualifying citizens call their pharmacy as they normally do for a prescription and inform someone a deputy will pick it up for delivery.
• The person prescribed for the medicine calls the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 638-4117 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday to arrange a pick-up and delivery.
• The medication’s cost has been pre-paid. If special arrangements need to be made regarding payment; let the Sheriff’s office representative know ASAP so that we can work on a solution.
• The recipient must be present at delivery and show the deputy a valid photo ID to prove ownership
• Prescriptions will be left outside the door.
Pharmacy Guidelines
• Verify need of delivery based on guidelines stated.
• Make sure patient knows that they must be at home when prescription is delivered and show an ID.
• Obtain payment for prescription.
• Call Oconee County Sheriff’s office at 864-638-4117 by 2:30 pm each day stating prescriptions are ready for pick up. This is being offered Monday through Friday.
• Make sure contact number for patient is on the outside of the bag in case officer needs to make contact with patient.