#quicksie983

The FBI Louisville Field Office is alerting Kentuckians to an increase in reports of fraud schemes involving scammers impersonating law enforcement or government officials.

The FBI says criminal scammers are contacting Kentuckians using spoofed phone numbers and a variety of other tactics to pose as officials from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The most prevalent scheme right now involves the scammer posing as your local sheriff’s office and falsely accusing the victim of not reporting for jury duty or missing a court date, with the caller possibly claiming a warrant has been issued for the victim’s arrest. The scammers may use artificial intelligence or fraudulently-created court documents to appear more legitimate.

The FBI says the callers will seek to exploit the victim through intimidation. They will use an urgent and aggressive tone, refuse to speak with somebody else or leave a message, and urge victims not to tell friends, family, financial institutions, or other law enforcement agencies about the situation. The caller then pressures the victim to pay an immediate fine in order to avoid jail time or other negative consequences, with the demanded payment typically being cash deposited into cryptocurrency ATMs, prepaid cards, and wire transfers.

The FBI says no legitimate law enforcement agency, be it on the local, state, or federal level, will ever call members of the public to demand payment or threaten arrest, and no agency will accept payment via cryptocurrency. The FBI advises if you are targeted with such a call you “Take a Beat.” Do not provide any personal information, and do not exchange money with individuals you have not met in person.

Learn more about scam prevention at www.fbi.gov/takeabeat, and report scams to your local law enforcement agency or at www.ic3.gov.

A Kentucky House bill concerning railroad crossings that has a local connection passed the chamber this week.

House Bill 311 would require railroad companies to clear obstructive vegetation along public railroad-highway grade crossings.

According to a release from the Kentucky House Majority Caucus, 10th District Representative Josh Calloway and 27th District Representative Nancy Tate are the primary sponsor and cosponsor on the legislation, which was introduced to the House Committee on Committees on January 12 before being sent to the Transportation Committee. The bill passed on its third reading with a 93 to 1 vote.

Under the terms of the bill, railroad companies would be required to “destroy or remove plants, trees, brush, or other obstructive vegetation along the tracks at each public railroad-highway grade crossing for 250 feet in each direction.” If the railroad company fails to remove the vegetation, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet or local government will be allowed to send a 30-days notice for removal, after which the KYTC or local government can remove the vegetation and bill the railroad company. Requirements concerning private property and a waiver process are included in the bill.

When Calloway and Tate presented the bill to the Transportation Committee, they were joined by Vine Grove resident Tanya Serna, whose son Hunter was killed in 2020 “when a train struck the car he was riding in at a railroad crossing with overgrown vegetation that obstructed visibility.” Serna has been advocating for legislation to improve safety and prevent similar tragedies.

The bill now heads to the Kentucky Senate. Learn more on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission’s website.