How to avoid COVID-19 scams

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers capitalized on the

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANNEXATION AGREEMENT

Between the Town of Grover, North Carolina and the City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to N.C.G.S. 160A-58.23 the Town Council for the Town of Grover will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Grover Town Hall, 207 Mulberry Rd., Grover, North Carolina to consider entering into an Annexation Agreement with the City of Kings Mountain, whereby the Town of Grover will consent to the annexation of a tract of property consisting of 23.14 acres located on Jim Patterson Road, which is non-contiguous to the Corporate limits of both participating municipalities. The property that is being considered in the proposed Annexation Agreement is identified in the tax records for Cleveland County as follows:

1] Parcel 65976 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 128 consisting of 0.162 acre

2] Parcel 10553 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 35 consisting of 1.694 acres

3] Parcel 40830 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 67L consisting of 2.004 acres

4] Parcel 65988 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 129 consisting of 0.466 acre

5] Parcel 10579 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 59L consisting of 5.432 acres

6] Parcel 10523 – Map 4-18, Blk 1, Lot 6L consisting of 6.299 acres

7] Parcel 66154 – Map 4-37, Blk 1, Lot 93 consisting of 7.084 acres

The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Opportunity for public input will be offered during the public hearing portion of the meeting. For additional information, please contact the Town Clerk at 704-937-9986.

Town of Grover Michelle Emory, Town Clerk

KMH (3/22/2023) crisis. Even now, BBB Scam Tracker regularly receives reports about pandemic-related scams. Be on the lookout for this common con: phishing messages about at-home COVID-19 tests. How the scam works: You receive a call, get a message, or spot a social media post. You qualify for free athome COVID-19 tests from your insurance or the government. But qualities are limited, and you need to apply immediately.

However, you need to provide a few basic details to receive your tests delivered straight to your door. The form – or, in the case of a phone scam, the caller – asks for your name, contact information, and insurance informa-

Legal Notice

Notice Of Public Hearing

Kings Mountain Housing Authority will hold a public hearing at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 201 McGill Court, Kings Mountain, NC for the purpose of receiving public comment on the Agency’s 2023 Annual and Five Year Plan. A draft of the plan will be available for review at the above address during normal business hours.

KMH (3/22/2022) tion, including copies of your insurance cards or Medicare number. They may also ask for your credit card number to cover a small delivery fee. If you agree, you’ll hand your sensitive personal information to scammers. Adding insult to injury, you will never receive your tests. They never existed!

One consumer told BBB, “I received two emails from ‘COVID-19 Tests’ indicating that the Biden administration must cover at-home COVID testing kits every month for free. I was asked for personal data, including my address, date of birth, and Medicare card number. When it came time to determine if I qualified, the site would no longer work. I immediately became suspicious. I am afraid I was scammed into providing information that can be used to open accounts in my name.”

How to avoid COVID-19 test scams:

• Want a test? Get one through official sources. Speak with your local pharmacist about purchasing a test or visit Covid.gov/tests to see if your household qualifies for free at-home tests from the government. The FDA also has a list of authorized athome COVID-19 diagnostic tests you can review.

• Do your research. Scammers may pressure you to hand over your personal information, claiming that you’ll lose your chance to get free tests if you don’t act now. Refrain from giving in to high-pressure tactics; constantly research before you agree to anything. In addition, review this warning from the FDA.

• Understand all your testing options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a detailed guide to testing for COVID-19. Knowing what tests are available and how to get them will give you the upper hand should you be targeted by a scammer.

• Never share your personal information with strangers. Only make purchases and share your personal information with people and companies you know and trust. Be wary of anyone approaching you with unsolicited offers, whether over the phone or otherwise. If you suspect your personal information has been compromised, report it to identitytheft.gov.

• Don’t click on links in text messages or emails from strangers. Scammers often send links to their victims as a part of phishing scams. Such links might send you to an imitation website where scammers try to collect your personal information, or they could download malware onto your computer or mobile device, which will also put you at risk for identity theft.