Athens, OH – The Athens County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim to be deputies and demand money or personal information.
According to a statement released Monday, the sheriff’s office has received multiple reports of individuals posing as deputies, sometimes with caller ID showing the office’s number. Officials said these calls are fraudulent and stressed that deputies will never call to advise of a missed court date, solicit money, or request banking information.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that scammers may use spoofing technology to disguise their phone numbers, making them appear local or legitimate. Victims have reported that callers may provide fake names, employee numbers, or badge numbers to sound convincing. In some cases, the caller may become aggressive or vulgar if the recipient refuses to cooperate.
Authorities urged residents to hang up immediately if they receive such a call and to share the warning with elderly or vulnerable family members and neighbors, who are often the primary targets of these scams.
The department also reminded the public not to provide personal information over the phone, regardless of how official the call may seem. Payments in the form of gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency should be considered red flags.
Residents who have lost money or provided personal information are encouraged to report the activity to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Sheriff Rodney Smith asked the community to remain vigilant, noting that awareness is the best defense against financial fraud. Updates on scams and other public safety alerts will continue to be shared on the sheriff’s office’s social media channels.
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