EDMONDS – Police are warning the public of an ongoing telephone scam that has cost at least one woman $20,000.
The scammers claim the victims have won money, either from Publishers Clearing House or a Canadian contest, Edmonds police said.
In one case, the caller told the woman she needed to wire money to pay for taxes and fees before her she could claim her prize. The suspect called a second time, claiming to need more money.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Edmonds Sgt. Jeff Jones said.
Residents are encouraged not to send money to anyone they don’t know.
Police say if someone wins a legitimate lottery or contest, the fees and taxes are generally deducted after the money has been handed out.
Arlington: Sheriff makes sex offender notification
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is notifying residents of a Level 3 sex offender moving living in the 18800 block of Smokey Point Boulevard.
David Christian Stout, 26, pleaded guilty in Snohomish County Superior Court to first-degree child molestation in 1999. He was sentenced to 68 months in prison.
The victims were two young boys, who Stout knew for only a short time. Stout has admitted to as many 24 victims between the ages of two and 10. He met many of these boys and girls through church activities and some of the sexual assaults may have occurred on church property, according to the sheriff’s office.
Stout didn’t participate in sex offender treatment program while in prison. He will be on active supervision out of the Marysville office of the state Department of Corrections.
For more information, call 360-658-2150.
Stanwood: Fire districts get new uniforms
Two fire districts are wearing new uniforms these days.
Fire District 14 in Warm Beach and Fire District 18 in Bryant have combined services to become North County Fire and EMS.
The new name and uniforms are part of a cooperative agreement the districts signed late last year. The districts are working together to respond to fires and medical emergencies.
They’re also training together and will purchase equipment and gear together in hopes of saving money, Fire District 18 Deputy Chief Joel Smith said.
The districts will maintain separate budgets and continue to have their own fire commissioners and chiefs, District 14 Capt. Christian Davis said.
“We expect this program to grow. We are not having to duplicate efforts. … We are saving our taxpayers money,” said District 14 Chief Rex Lindquist.
The two agencies serve more than 100 square miles in north county. They have more than 70 firefighters and staff three fire stations around the clock.
From Herald staff reports
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