Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Issues Third March 2024 Scams Update

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing today a third March 2024 Scams Update due to continued reports of law enforcement scams.

Last night, a Deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau spoke with a victim who received a call from someone claiming to be from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.  The caller did call from a number that is a Sheriff’s Office phone number. 

The caller advised the victim that he had a warrant for his arrest due to missing jury duty.  The caller told the victim that the arrest warrant would be recalled, or the charges dropped, if the victim paid $2,900.00.  The victim paid the money through the use of prepaid type cards.

Today, there have been other law enforcement scams reported to the Sheriff’s Office in regards to persons receiving calls indicating they have missed jury duty.  In one instance, the callers mentioned speaking with Captain Ken Washington, who is an employee of the Sheriff’s Office. 

In another case, the scammer called from a number that is an official Sheriff’s Office number.  The scammer told the person they called that they could come to the Law Enforcement Center in Walhalla, pay and be placed in a holding cell until they are processed, or, pay money through bitcoin.  The caller mentioned that they had also spoken with Captain Washington.

Due to this being the third release this month, the Sheriff’s Office would like to mention some tips that have been mentioned so that no one becomes a victim of this type of scam.

· Scammers are professionals and they are well trained at stealing money, personal identifying information and financial account information.  The less interaction you have with them, the better your chances of not being scammed. 

· Scammers want to create a sense of urgency, which causes stress, so that their victims will make decisions that they would not ordinarily make.

· If you receive a call from someone claiming to be law enforcement that says you have an arrest warrant, and then requests money in order to drop the charges, hang up the phone and call the law enforcement agency that reportedly called you.  If you were provided a name of the officer that called you, provide that name, as well, when you call.

· Law enforcement will not ask you to pay money in order to have a warrant recalled, or to have charges dropped.  If anyone claiming to be from law enforcement asks you to do this, it is a scam!

· If anyone asks you to pay using an unusual form of payment, such as gift cards, prepaid cards or through bitcoin, automatically presume it is a scam.