INDIANA (WTWO/WAWV) — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that Conservation Officers are investigating a potential scam where unsuspecting Hoosiers are being duped when booking campsites.
The DNR is asking for public’s assistance in the investigation, where allegedly a third party fraudulently advertises and rents campsites to Hoosiers. Then, upon arrival, they find the site they paid for not available.
Instances of this scam could date back as far as July 2021, a news release said. Anyone who has used a third party or social media to reserve a campsite for this upcoming year may be a victim of this scam, DNR said.
According to officials, some of these scams could be happening in the Wabash Valley. The release from DNR listed Greene Sullivan State Forest in Sullivan County, Ind. and McCormick’s Creek State Park in Owen County as “state properties of interest”.
Also included in properties of interest are Trine State Recreation Area, Spring Mill State Park and Morgan-Monroe State Forest, according to DNR.
Anyone who thinks they may have been or are currently a victim of this scam is encouraged to contact Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at (812) 837-9536.
The group is also reminded Hoosiers to only make reservations for DNR properties via the official DNR website at Camp.IN.gov or the DNR Reservation Line at (866) 622-6746.
