Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Issues April 2025 Scams Update

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------In our continuing efforts to educate and inform our citizens, and to prevent them from becoming victims of scams, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is releasing today our April 2025 Scams Update.

 A Deputy spoke with the victim of a law enforcement scam.  The victim said that they received a call from someone using the name of a current, and former employee, of the Sheriff’s Office.  The victim was told that they had missed jury duty and that a warrant had been issued for their arrest.

The victim was notified that they could pay $3,500 to post bail.  The victim sent $1,000 to the scammers.

In a similar scam, a citizen from a neighboring County notified the Sheriff’s Office that they received a call from someone using the name of a current employee stating that they had a Bench Warrant for failure to appear. 

The citizen stated that they were told that they needed to pay $3,500 or that she would be arrested.  The citizen was sent a QR code in order to send the payment via Bitcoin.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has previously issued the following tips in regards to avoid being a victim of a law enforcement related scam.  We are reissuing those tips below:

·         Law Enforcement Officers will not ask for, nor will accept, payment in order to have a warrant recalled or charges dropped. 

·         Law Enforcement will never tell you to pay money to avoid a lawful arrest or bench warrant has been issued.

·         If anyone asks you to make a payment in an unusual form, such as a gift card or through cryptocurrency, automatically presume it is a scam and do not make the payment. 

·        Remember that one of the tools of a scammer is to create a sense of urgency so a victim will do something that they may not otherwise do in a non-stressful situation, so be aware of this tactic and make sure to slow the situation down.  

·         Also, if you have caller ID and you don’t recognize the number, don’t answer the phone.  

A Deputy spoke with a victim who stated that she received a call and was informed that someone had tried to fill out an application for a credit card in her name.  The victim said the caller asked her several questions and the victim told the Deputy that she had provided some personal identifying information, plus, her address and phone number.

The victim told the caller that she did not have a card with that particular financial institution.  The victim did say that the caller on the phone seemed confused. 

“As we have stated previously, if you receive a call from a business or company that you do not do business with, and you did not initiate the call, do not provide them any personal identifying information or financial account information,” says Corporal Jimmy Watt, Public Information Officer for the Sheriff’s Office.  “Companies or businesses that you do have a relationship with already have this information.  They may ask you to verify certain information but you should only do so if you initiate the call or contact.”