FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Sheriff Warns of Telephone Scammers Posing as Deputy
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
The Gordon County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of local citizens receiving telephone calls from a person who claims to be a Sheriff’s Office staff member. This scammer will use an actual name of a current Sheriff’s staff member and then tell the victim that they owe money on a civil fine. The scammer will try to get the victim to get a ‘gift card’ or give financial information in an attempt to commit fraud. The scam number has been reported to show as an actual courthouse telephone number.
This is an an obvious scam, played over and over every day all across the country. The numbers are ‘ghosted’ and usually originate overseas. The names of staff members can be obtained in online records searches, or obviously from people who’ve had contact with the Sheriff’s Office or Jail.
The Sheriff’s Office NEVER solicits fine payments, or payments of any kind by telephone. Citizens should NEVER give personal or financial information to any caller that they do not know personally. The easiest way to avoid being victimized is to simply hang up the telephone.