The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is asking for information about fraud suspects reported to be operating in the area.
According to a press release from sheriff’s office, on Aug. 22, two white males and one black male were reported to have been selling meat from a van to residents in the Aurora area. A victim reported that while she paid one suspect, the others pretended they were placing purchased meat in her freezer, only to find out later she got much less than what she paid for, said the release. A similar incident in the area was also reported.
Maj. Kenneth Watson, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said that fraud of this type is not uncommon, adding that while there are legitimate sellers out there, it’s often difficult to tell the good from the bad.
“Unfortunately, sometimes you get con artists,” Watson said. “The situation in Aurora was definitely someone taking advantage of the good nature of the victims.”
Watson said that victims are often too embarrassed to alert authorities of fraud of this nature, but informing law enforcement could prevent it from happening to others.
“We see them as being victimized by con artists and encourage (victims) to report it to limit the number of incidences we have in the county,” Watson said.
The van the men drove was described by the victim as light in color with color images of meat on the van’s sides. The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information about this case, or who has been a victim of this crime, to call the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 252-946-7111 or Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at 252-974-6400. Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward.