First it was fake Health Department inspectors.
Now scammers are pretending to be Scioto County Sheriff’s Office employees, telling residents they missed jury duty, ignored a subpoena, or were involved in a crash — and threatening them with arrest if they don’t pay up.
The Sheriff’s Office says it has received numerous calls from residents across the county about the scam.
Callers have even been using the names of actual-sounding law enforcement personnel, identifying themselves as Captain Davis or Lieutenant Staten in an effort to make the story more convincing.
Then comes the scary part.
The caller claims there’s a warrant — or that one is about to be issued — unless the victim pays money immediately.
“Don’t Tell Anyone”
One of the nastier tricks scammers are using is telling victims they are under a “gag order.”
They may claim you aren’t allowed to talk to your spouse, family, friends, police, or anyone else about the call.
There’s a reason for that.
They don’t want you calling somebody who will immediately say, “Hang up. That’s a scam.”
The Sheriff’s Office says law enforcement does not place people under verbal gag orders over the phone.
Gift Cards, Cash App, Crypto? Hang Up
Once the scammer has frightened someone with talk of warrants and arrest, the next step is getting the money.
Victims may be told to pay using Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
The Sheriff’s Office says neither it nor the Scioto County courts will call, text, or email someone and demand immediate electronic payment to clear a warrant or fine.
And an actual arrest warrant isn’t something you make disappear by reading gift card numbers to a stranger on the telephone.
If somebody claiming to be a deputy says you can stay out of jail by sending money right now, hang up.
Another Local Government Imposter Scam
The warning comes just days after the Portsmouth City Health Department warned residents about another government imposter scam.
In that scheme, callers claimed to represent the Health Department and told residents they had been selected for a “yearly inspection.”
The department made it clear: there are no random residential inspections underway, and those calls were not coming from its employees.
The two scams use the same basic trick — borrow the name of a government agency, create a sense of urgency, and hope the person on the other end reacts before stopping to check the story.
What Should You Do?
The Sheriff’s Office says the best response is simple: hang up.
Don’t argue with the caller. Don’t confirm your Social Security number, address, banking information, or other personal details. And definitely don’t send money.
If you’re worried there really could be an issue involving jury duty or a court case, call the Scioto County Clerk of Courts directly at 740-355-8218 and verify it yourself.
Fraudulent calls can also be reported to local law enforcement and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
And it’s worth passing the warning along, particularly to older relatives, friends, and neighbors who may be more likely to take an intimidating call from someone claiming to be law enforcement seriously.
The easiest rule to remember?
Real deputies don’t take gift cards to keep you out of jail.