ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Several scams are making their way around East Tennessee, from the phone, to the internet and mail.

They Sheriff's Department has seen a spike in Hawkins County, but they know scammers are targeting people everywhere.

It's just what everyone wants to hear, "He told me that I won a sweepstakes, that I was the second winner, and I won $1.5 million," explained Tina Guntrum.

Oh but there's a catch, before Tina can collect her cash, she needs to send a $315 money order.

Then the next request the man had was, "To come back and call him and tell him I did the transaction," she said.

Guntrum knew immediately it was scam, and picked up the phone for the Hawkins County Sheriff's Department. She is just the most recent person in the area to be targeted by scammers.

Chief Deputy Tony Allen said, "The scams have increased in the last couple of years. Seems like the economy, whenever it drops, the scams increase."

Some come through the mail, but many are by phone or on the internet.

Tina said the man called multiple times, and at one point it was a Jamaican area code, 876. He even left a message asking if she had sent the money order yet.

Chief Deputy Allen said scammers appear to rely on jurisdictional boundaries to hinder law enforcement.

Tony said, "It's pretty simple, but if somebody is wanting to give you money, it's more than likely going to be false."

But, scams don't just say you won something, some claim a loved is in trouble and needs money to get home. "That's one of the newer ones that has come in," Tony said.

And, the reason they work? The scammer has just enough information to seem legitimate. Chief Deputy Allen said many people don't realize how much is available in public records and online. "It's usually what people are posting themselves on the social network, is where people are getting the information," he said.

Now, they hope everyone will keep all this in mind next time they get an offer that's too good to be true.

"Because you don't pay money to win money," Tina said.

In Hawkins County, majority of the people targeted for scams are older.

The Sheriff's Department said you should call your local law enforcement. They also recommend contacting the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI.

If the scam is by mail then call the U.S. Postal Inspector, or by phone then call your telephone provider.