We've written about lots of scams over the years.

Confidence schemes where targets, usually the elderly, are told some nonsense about pending charges or their grandkids being in jail. To get out, the scammer tells them, just send us a bunch of gift cards.



Unfortunately, too many times the scammers get some well-meaning granny to fork out thousands of her hard-earned dollars.

This time, "Investigator Jack" picked the wrong lady.

This time, "Jack" picked Mitzi Bolin.

You may not know Mitzi, but you definitely know her husband: Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin.

We'll let Chief Bolin's Facebook post pick up the story from here:

Bolin says that Evansville has seen an increase in the scam calls lately.

"Tons of people have been mentioning it to me. But the problem is most of them are coming from overseas with a spoof number. They're not local, and you can't really get the FBI involved, so there's not a lot we can do."

Why the recent increase?

"They're doing it so much because it's working," Bolin said. 

That said, Bolin encourages anyone who receives a call to their cell phone to block the numbers. Beyond that, if they leave you a message, you can always call them back.

Those scammers who do get caught, however, are looking at charges like fraud and theft, which can carry significant jail time depending on their haul.

As a general rule, if you get a call seeking money, or gift cards, or anything else that sounds off... don't. Just don't

And if you're planning on scamming folks, maybe don't call the chief. Or his wife.

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