Sheriff’s Department

Willie –

Victim Location 35811

Total money lost $987

Type of a scam Phishing

I was called by the (so called) Sheriff’s Department to pay the bail or I would be arrested. I was also directed to go to the Sheriff’s office to sign papers and I would get my money back when we go to court. There was no sheriff’s office to go to.

Ruth –

Victim Location 27302

Total money lost $300

Type of a scam Other

Call from "Chief Zachary Miller" from the Sheriff’s Office. Stating I had 2 class A misdemeanor charges stemming from failure to appear for jury duty. (Summons of course not received). Instructed needed to appear immediately to Sheriff’s with $300 (10% of ‘bond’) on a MoneyPak. Further legal consequences would ensue if I was not compliant. Provided badge number, held "open line" during the whole process, had to be ‘transferred’ to someone else for part of it….provided enough detail to be convincing enough although a few details seemed questionable. Definitely stirred fear. I obtained the Money Pak. They had to ‘verify fund availability’ so needed the number. Once he knew I was very suspicious (had gotten someone else involved), instructed me to go to the MoneyPak website to secure login. BAM– I think in doing that process it transferred the money onto his card. Once I had time to read all the moneypak stuff, that would have been clear but didn’t take that time. In hindsight, I should have refused to keep the open line for a bit, called or gone to my local police department, and gone from there. Would have saved me a lot of hassle and money. Beware. No police agency will call in this manner I’ve found. They would ALWAYS come in person.

Allison –

Victim Location 21703

Total money lost $1,200

Type of a scam Debt Collections

Initially contacted by phone message 3/5/2018. Claiming to be sheriff’s department. Returned call 3/6/2018. FIRST MISTAKE. Scammer claimed to be Ofcr Andrew Alcorn with the local Sheriff’s Department. Told me that due to my not showing up for Jury Duty there were 2 warrants out for my arrest. I said I was not notified about jury duty. "Ofcr Alcorn" claimed I was sent a notice January 2, 2018, I signed it, and returned it. Again I said I did not receive any notice and someone must have forged my name. "Ofcr Alcorn" said I would have to get cash from my financial institution, take it to CVS, purchase 2 MoneyPak cards (1 for each charge) and put the cash onto the cards with the cashier. During the entire time, I was told to not disconnect the phone and that I was under a Non-Disclosure Federal Statute that I could NOT tell anyone what was going on. If I disconnected the call and did not call back in 60 seconds I would be arrested. I complied with all instructions, thinking I was talking to a real Sheriff’s Officer. I went to the Court House as instructed. It was then that I found out I had been scammed. By then the scammers had time to cash in the MoneyPak cards and I lost over $1,000.

If there is anything your agency can do, PLEASE DO!!!!

Rosa –

Victim Location 95762

Total money lost $1,000

Type of a scam Debt Collections

Lady was called by a guy purporting to be a Deputy Sheriff, who said she had two misdemeanors for failing to report for a civic duty. He scared her and she paid him $1K in gift cards.

Shaun –

Victim Location 35757

Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order

The individual contacted my stepmother by telephone and informed her he was from the Sheriff’s Department. He told her that there was a bench warrant out for her arrest due to her failure to show up in court. He explained that it would be necessary for her to purchase bonds using a money order and then go to the courthouse a month from the time that he spoke with her on the phone to use a kiosk where she could deposit the bonds. He was extremely knowledgeable and answered all of her questions. Once they hung up, my stepmother contacted the Sheriff’s Department and they confirmed it was a scam. They also confirmed that the individual was local.

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