Wood County, WV – The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers impersonate a local judge and demand payment for alleged court fines.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are using the name of Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton and falsely claiming that residents or their family members are in contempt of court. Victims are then told to bring a sum of money to the Sheriff’s Office and turn it over to a deputy to avoid further legal action.
Authorities emphasize that this is a scam and that neither the court system nor the Sheriff’s Office collects fines in this manner. “Our court system does not operate in this fashion. The Sheriff’s Office does not take fines directly,” officials said in a public statement.
Residents are urged not to provide any personal information or payments to such callers. Anyone who receives a suspicious call is advised to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office directly to verify any claims or report the scam.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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