County officials are warning area residents to beware of bright yellow postcards claiming the recipient owes delinquent property taxes.
The cards, officials say, may be linked to a scam.
Gloria Colbaugh with the Carter County Trustee’s Office said the office has received a number of calls from residents who have received the cards and were concerned.
Colbaugh provided the Elizabethton Star with a copy of one of the postcards, and said they have nothing to do with the Trustee’s Office, which is where Carter County residents pay their property taxes.
The postcards contain the following message:
“Attention: When I checked the public records for VACANT LAND that you own those records indicated that your land was delinquent for NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES & will be auctioned off if the taxes are not paid in full. If you have not paid the taxes on the land and do not intend to pay, please call me AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE at 561-729-6464. If you have already paid the back taxes, please disregard this. I have an idea, which may prove interesting & advantageous to you. Sincerely, Eric Herm, 561-729-6464.”
Colbaugh said she called the number listed on the postcard in an attempt to find out more information.
“It evidently is some sort of scam that is not on the up and up,” she said. “If you have received anything like this we recommend you do not call the number on the card but call our office instead.”
Colbaugh again stressed these bright yellow postcards have nothing to do with the Carter County trustee’s office, and asks that anyone who has received one of the cards or who has any questions regarding their taxes to call the office at 542-1811.