ACTIVE SCAM ALERT

There is a re-occurring scam ongoing throughout the State and surrounding areas where Sheriff’s Deputies from this Office are being impersonated. The scams are becoming more convincing.

The most recent reported attempt is the victim was given the name of an actual Deputy who is on staff at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was told they missed a court date for jury duty.

After some discussion between the victim and impersonator that may include the impersonator “speaking with the Judge” on behalf of the victim to try and avoid a warrant being issued.

The impersonator will then offer to allow the victim to clear the default by payment over the phone. When asked how the victim may pay, the impersonator will offer PayPal, Zelle, etc. If the victim still refuses payment, they will be offered the ability to appear at one of the Sheriff’s Office “remote locations” in order to pay by cash using green dot or a similar service.

The impersonator may provide a citation number, badge number, and use official sounding terminology such as “gag order” in an attempt to keep the victim from discussing the situation with anyone else. You may hear other background noise which may be taken as a “work” area at the Sheriff’s Office. None of this is real, and all of this theater is being used to confuse you and convince you to allow them to steal your money.

If you are contacted by phone and told that a warrant exists for you, or that you have some other court business. Please disconnect the phone call. Find a publicly listed phone number for the supposed law enforcement agency contacting you, do not rely on any phone number provided by the impersonator. Or contact the Court directly using a publicly listed number to confirm that there is a case you may be involved in.

If you feel there may be some legitimate issue, please remember that no actual law enforcement agency or Court will ask you to pay off fines, post bail, or take official payments through use of the methods mentioned above or any similar methods.

Any other questions or concerns that you may have on these types of calls if it is actual or not, please contact your local law enforcement agency before you become a victim of a scam.

Stay Safe