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BBB warns of employment scams

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The Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana is warning residents of a rise in employment scams. 

The BBB says a decreased hiring rate and recent layoffs mean more people are searching for jobs, which means scammers are trying to take advantage of job seekers.

The BBB received several scam reports in October identifying a company operating under the name Northflow Freight and Northflow Couriers. Victims were contacted through job listing sites such as Indeed about fake shipping, freight, and courier jobs. The scammers sent fake onboarding paperwork, asked for personal and banking information from the victim, and had the victim purchase materials for the alleged job and handle or reship packages as part of fake job training.

Another reported scam was for businesses operating under the name Techcycle, which were offering work-from-home and technical support jobs. Victims were contacted by email or phone and asked to provide personal information and purchase work equipment.

The BBB says there are no legitimate work opportunities that involve receiving and shipping packages to a new address from your home. If you come across a reshipping job listing, report the scam to the United States Postal Inspection Service and to the BBB’s Scam Tracker. Research the hiring company and the person who contacted you ahead of applying for a position. Visit www.bbb.org for more recommendations.

Donations still being accepted for Shop with a Trooper and Shop with a Cop programs

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There is still time to support area law enforcement agencies’ efforts to spread holiday cheer for area children in need.

Donations are still being accepted for Kentucky State Police Post Four’s Shop with a Trooper program.

“This program is something that we’ve been doing for a long time,” said KSP Post Four Public Information Officer Master Trooper Bryan Washer. “It’s an opportunity to take kids that would never get a Christmas, never get presents, somebody’s shopping for them, and these kids are ones that are referred to us by some of the troopers that are seeing some of the hard cases either late at night or during the day, some of the cases where they just know that these are the kids that need to go shopping with us.”

The goal for this year’s program is to raise $250 to $300 per child. Post Four is also hoping to host a special meal for the children. Area businesses, organizations, and community members can contribute by writing a check payable to KSP Post 04 Shop with a Trooper. Contact Washer for more information.

Meanwhile, donations are being accepted for the Elizabethtown Police Department and Hardin County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Shop with a Cop program.

“Every year, our Shop of the Cop program provides essential clothing and a special toy to nearly 300 Hardin County children, but we can’t do it without the support of individuals and businesses throughout Hardin County,” said EPD Public Information Officer John Thomas. “Your donations, big or small, help keep kids warm this winter, and bring a little extra Christmas joy to their hearts. And yes, it is tax deductible.”

Donations can be dropped off at the Elizabethtown Police Department, located at 300 South Mulberry Street. Contact Thomas or Officer Chris Denham for more information.

Elizabethtown man arrested in infant abuse investigation

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A Hardin County man has been arrested as part of a criminal abuse investigation.

Zachary Foster of Elizabethtown was arrested and charged under the Kentucky Revised Statute for Criminal Abuse First Degree – Child 12 or Under.

According to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, on October 28 detectives with the office’s Criminal Investigations Division responded to a report of suspected physical abuse involving an infant. The detectives immediately began an investigation in conjunction with Child Protective Services. Over the next two weeks, investigators conducted interviews with the parents and medical professionals regarding injuries sustained by the infant, which the sheriff’s office described as “significant”.

Foster is scheduled to appear in a preliminary hearing on November 21. The sheriff’s office’s investigation is ongoing.

New EPD victim interview room part of department’s effort to offer more support

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The Elizabethtown Police Department gave community partners the opportunity to view their new victim interview room during an unveiling event Thursday.

EPD Victim Services Specialist Anesha Knott said when Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson hired her, he said she had a blank slate to figure out the best ways to serve victims of crime.

“Over the first year, starting from November of 2023 through last fall, we had a couple of incidents that really popped up and hit at home with us, that were larger incidents that we were like okay, we need a place for kids to be safe here in the PD and we need a place for victims to be interviewed where they feel safe and secure and they feel comfortable talking to the law enforcement officer that’s investigating their case,” Knott said.

Knott secured grant funding to convert one of the standard EPD interview rooms into a more comfortable atmosphere. The grant funding also allowed the EPD to purchase items such as toys, cots, and playpens for when children need to be at the police department for long periods of time along with resources for victims such as emergency housing and emergency cell phone service.

“We’re trying to make things to where it’s more comfortable for the victim, that they have what they need, and they’re more comfortable and feel safer and they can move forward and keep engaging in that process,” Knott said.

Thompson said all divisions of the police department work with victims in some way, but having a dedicated victim services position opened the door for the department to better provide help.

“We like to provide information,” Thompson said. “We like to provide that follow up, but everybody within this role has a cog in the wheel, and that’s not the one that we do the best. It just isn’t, so that’s why we here at the Elizabethtown Police Department have prioritized Anesha’s position.”

The room renovation and other purchases were made possible by a grant from the women-led philanthropic initiative Heels Together.