by Geoff Fox
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of scammers impersonating members of the Sheriff’s Office to collect money from the community.
In a release, the Sheriff’s Office said they’ve received reports of scammers calling county residents claiming to be a deputy and telling them they have a warrant against them or the person missed jury duty.
The caller might also threaten arrest unless the person immediately sends money, often requesting payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ATMs, wire transfers, or payment apps such as Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo.
The Sheriff’s Office said there are a few important reminders to keep in mind when getting these calls.
Law enforcement officers will not call you demanding payment to avoid arrest, nor will they request fines or fees through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps.
Scammers may use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the call is coming from a legitimate law enforcement phone number and my use the name of a real officer or have personal information about you.
If you were to receive a call from a scammer, police say you should hang up immediately, do not send money or provide personal information, and do not call the number back.
If you want to verify information, contact the claimed source using a trusted phone number.
“Please help protect others by sharing this warning with family and friends,” the Sheriff’s Department said.
Other scams the Sheriff’s Office has notified residents about include one regarding cash bond refunds.
The Sheriff’s Office said courts do not request immediate digital payments or gift cards, they use official correspondence and established procedures.
As with the other scam, people shouldn’t be sending money or sharing personal information with the caller.
In these scams, the caller creates a sense of urgency and threaten arrest, often demanding immediate payment via apps, gift cards, or crypto. Legitimate courts and the U.S. Courts won’t ask for digital currency or gift cards for bonds.
The caller will also use spoofed information like a judge’s name, real names, court addresses, and spoofing phone numbers to seem real.
There could also be fake documents like letters, emails, or texts, with QR codes or kiosk instructions for payment.
Police said if you were to receive one of these scams, do not send money or provide financial or personal information.
You can also call the actual court or sheriff’s office using a number from their official website, not from the scam document or call.
Police said you should contact the Federal Trade Commission, FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) and your local law enforcement.
And of course, they suggest hanging up immediately if it is a phone call.
Hancock Police Sargent Shawn Faith said the police department has “so much literature” on scams and identify theft available there for residents to pick up for free.
He also noted they haven’t had any scam calls lately being reported nor have they used Hancock Police Department officers in the calls, luckily.
He agrees with the Sheriff’s Office about never giving any information over the phone.
“Also it is better to report in person or have us up to them so there is the trust factor in them reporting it,” Faith said in an email to The Hancock News.
