“New scams surface daily throughout the country and that doesn’t exempt Halifax County,” Sheriff Wes Tripp said in a statement.

In recent weeks, some local residents have received a text message from an unknown number representing themselves as affiliated with Southern Bank. The text message simply reads, “Please contact Southern Bank @ 7203611455.”

After calling the number, an automated message informs you that there has been suspicious activity on your account and that it is recommended that you change your bank card information. Southern Bank is familiar with this type of scam and the bank encourages anyone that has received any of these text messages to visit website the Federal Trade Commission website or go through Verizon. “The sheriff’s office understands that Verizon will in turn disable the requestor’s phone number to operate on their towers.”

Verizon says on its website if you receive a suspicious email, you should not reply to it, nor should you open any attachments, click on links contained in the email or provide any information in response to it. You can report suspected fraud involving Verizon or Verizon Wireless to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., respectively. Please include the word "phishing" in the subject line of your email and provide as much information as possible about the fraudulent activity or message.

Said Tripp: “The sheriff’s office would like to notify as many people as possible regarding these type of scams and to remind them that some scams appear to be to good to be true, and remember to protect themselves from con-artists.

If anyone has any questions regarding a possible scam, call the sheriff’s office at 252-583-8201 or your local law enforcement agency.