1. Randolph County deputies warn about circulating scam targeting residents
2. Beware of circulating scam reported by Randolph County deputies.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Deputies in Randolph County have issued a warning to residents to be vigilant against a prevalent phone scam that involves impersonating federal agents. The scam, which has been circulating widely, sees scammers calling individuals and pressuring them into handing over money by threatening arrests using the names of deputies.
According to officials, the scammers have been employing various tactics to deceive their victims. Some of the reported scenarios include informing the individual that they have missed a required appearance for Jury Duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. In other instances, the scammers claim that the individual has warrants for arrest or overdue fines, and they need to contact a specific bondsman to evade arrest.
These fraudulent callers often use the names of real deputies and manipulate their phone numbers to appear as though they are calling from the sheriff’s office. This practice, known as “spoofing,” aims to deceive the recipients into believing the legitimacy of the call. Despite sounding convincing, deputies have emphasized that these scammers are indeed spoofing the sheriff’s office phone number and instructing individuals to verify their identity by looking up the official number if they doubt the call’s authenticity.
In some cases, the scammers have provided a callback number and altered their voicemail messages to falsely claim it is the non-emergency number of the sheriff’s office, further perpetuating the deception. The scammers have been demanding payments in various forms, including cash, credit cards, gift cards, payment apps, and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Law enforcement authorities stress that legitimate agencies will never demand money over the phone in such a coercive manner. Residents have also reported instances where the scammers requested credit card details or directed them to deposit money into a Coinme (Bitcoin) ATM.
To combat this scam, the sheriff’s office has reiterated that they do not charge fees for missing jury duty, threaten individuals with arrest over the phone, or utilize Bitcoin for any official transactions. They advise the public to exercise caution and refrain from providing any personal information or financial details to unknown callers.
If individuals receive suspicious calls, they are encouraged to follow these tips provided by deputies:
– Refrain from giving money to unknown callers in any form
– Avoid confirming personal information such as date of birth, address, or social security details
– Verify the authenticity of the call by contacting the sheriff’s office or relevant law enforcement agency
– Victims of scams are urged to report the incident to their financial institution and law enforcement authorities
Residents are reminded to stay informed about the latest news and weather updates by downloading the WXII app. By remaining vigilant and cautious, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these deceptive phone scams..
“Randolph County deputies warn of circulating scam targeting residents”.
