Special to the WJH
The Ware County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents there’s a scam circulating related to law enforcement.
A statement from the WCSO said it had been notified scammers are again calling county residents posing as members of local law enforcement agencies. The current scam circulating involves a person’s identity supposedly being compromised.
Scammers are using “spoof” numbers to make it appear the origin of the call is from a legitimate law enforcement agency. The scammer informs the person they have information their identity has been compromised and the person needs to transfer money for safekeeping to protect it while the investigation is completed.
Residents should not transfer funds or give the caller any personal information, and immediately contact local law enforcement.
If a legitimate law enforcement agency calls you for a valid reason, they will have no issue with you meeting with a local law enforcement officer in-person and at the local Sheriff’s Office or police station to speak about the matter.
They will not rush you or have a problem with you speaking to them inperson or you taking the time to talk to a trusted family member, friend, or an attorney.
The scam is similar to one that a couple of county residents fell victim to in recent months involving a warrant for the person’s arrest for recently missing jury duty, scammers said.
In each of those cases, the scammer instructed money to be deposited in a bitcoin machine in a local retail outlet for transfer to the scammer.
Citizens are encouraged to contact local law enforcement if they even have a hint of uncertainty about the authenticity of a call from someone posing as a member of a law enforcement agency.
