From the desk of Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powers

Dear neighbors,

I hope your new year is off to a wonderful start!

As we settle into 2024 and all that will come with it, I'm urging you to stay vigilant against scams that will target you and the people you love.

Unfortunately, we are already seeing some that deeply concern me. As I've said before, these crooks are shameless.

Over the holiday season, scammers impersonated Joe Burrow, and The Joe Burrow Foundation, then solicited money from people who were none the wiser. The foundation was forced to make a public statement and remind people that the organization would never contact someone directly for a donation.

Please keep that in mind. A legitimate charity will never call you over the phone to solicit donations.

That's not all--here are a few other things to remember.

• Be careful with new friendships. If someone tries to get close to you soon after meeting them, they might not have your best interests in mind.
• When in doubt, hang up the phone. You don't have to be polite to an unsolicited caller.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you think someone is targeting you, don't be afraid to call 513-946-SCAM to report it.

Always fighting for you,

Melissa Powers 

Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney