Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

GATESVILLE – A Florida woman is behind bars, held under a one million dollar cash bond, for her alleged role in scamming an elderly Gates County woman out of a large sum of money.

Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell identified the suspect as Kelly Earley of Jacksonville, Florida. She stands charged with felony obtain property by false pretense and felony conspiracy. Her initial court date is set for Monday, Dec. 16.

Campbell said that his deputies took a report earlier last week from an elderly female who said she was the victim of a scam.

“A day or so later, the victim was contacted again at which time she was asked to come up with even more cash,” Campbell said. “Once we learned that in advance, we were able to set something up and hopefully make an arrest.”

Campbell said through subsequent phone calls between the scammer and the victim, it was arranged for a “courier” to come to the victim’s home on Friday (Dec. 6) and pick up the money.

“Unfortunately for the suspect, our deputies and special agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation were waiting,” Campbell said.

The Sheriff said a similar scam, one where the victim was also an elderly female, was recently pulled off in Chowan County.

“Scammers seem to prey on our older population,” Campbell said. “But no matter the age of a victim, please be mindful of anyone asking for money via email, text message or even a phone call. The people behind scams like this are very convincing and have made far too many people victims. If something doesn’t seem right, contact your local law enforcement agency for verification.

“The sad thing is that we can’t get to the person behind this scam…the ringleader. They’re probably in another country,” Campbell added.

The Sheriff said since the news broke of Earley’s arrest, the Gates County Sheriff’s Office has received several other reports of different citizens falling victim to different scammers.

“Safeguarding your hard earned money and financial information starts with you,” Campbell stressed. “The biggest tip we can offer anyone is to not engage with these people who ask for your money or private information over the phone. Do not give it to them.”

Campbell said that if something doesn’t seem right, then it’s probably not.

“Don’t hesitate to reach out to local law enforcement if you’re having a hard time deciding if what you’re being told is true or not,” he concluded.