RICHLAND COUNTY — The Richland County Sheriff’s Office is not calling area residents trying to demand payments for fines and/or warrants.
Maj. Jim Sweat on Thursday warned the public of such a phone scam currently targeting local citizens.
“Individuals have reported receiving calls from persons falsely identifying themselves as Richland County sheriff’s deputies,” Sweat said.
“These callers claim that the recipient has an active warrant and pressure the individual into paying a fee to have the warrant dismissed and avoid arrest,” he said.
“The Richland County Sheriff’s Office wants to be explicitly clear: We will never call a person directly to request payments for fines or warrants,” the RCSO major said.
He said this type of scam is becoming more frequent and more complex.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant and never provide payment information over the phone to anyone claiming to represent law enforcement,” Sweat said.
He advised residents who receive suspicious calls should take the following steps:
— Verify: If you are in doubt, do not provide any information. Hang up and contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Office directly at 419-774-5881 for official verification.
— Report it: If you suspect you have been a victim of this scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency immediately.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the community and asks residents to share this information with friends and family members, particularly the elderly, who may be at a higher risk of becoming targets,” Sweat said.
