York County, SC – The York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is warning residents about an active phone scam involving individuals impersonating real sheriff’s deputies and demanding money.
According to the department, scammers have used the names of actual personnel — including Captain Lee Stoneburner, Lt. Robbie Ellis, and Sgt. Johnathan Gilbert — in recent calls attempting to pressure victims into sending payment.
“These are real YCSO employees, but they are not the ones calling you,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Wednesday social media post. “A real deputy will never ask for money over the phone.”
The impersonators reportedly claim to represent the Sheriff’s Office and may cite fake warrants or legal issues to coerce payment, sometimes transferring victims between multiple scammers to appear legitimate.
YCSO emphasized that no law enforcement officer will ever demand payment or sensitive information by phone. Residents receiving suspicious calls should hang up immediately and verify directly by contacting the Sheriff’s Office through official channels.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted or lost money in this scam is urged to file a report with local authorities.
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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