Sumter County, SC – The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an ongoing phone and text scam targeting locals and prompting renewed safety concerns.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers or court officials and allegedly pressuring victims to pay fake fines or fees under threat of immediate arrest.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis said callers often demand payment through credit or debit cards, mobile payment apps, or gift cards. In some reported cases, victims were allegedly kept on the phone while purchasing gift cards and even transferred to a second individual posing as another officer to “verify” the warrant.
Officials said scammers have also placed conference calls that display the actual phone number of a local law enforcement agency, making the calls appear legitimate.
In a recent update, the Sheriff’s Office said scammers have begun targeting Tinder users and are using the name of Investigator D. West as part of the scheme.
The agency emphasized that it does not collect payments over the phone and does not handle warrants or arrests by telephone. All fines must be paid in person at the courthouse, and individuals with warrants must appear in person with identification.
Residents are urged to avoid sharing personal or financial information by phone, text, or email, and to verify suspicious calls by contacting the Sheriff’s Office directly using a publicly listed number.
Officials say students, online dating app users, and older adults may be especially vulnerable to these impersonation tactics.
Anyone receiving a call threatening arrest or demanding payment should hang up immediately and contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
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