Scammers are pretending to be police officers and calling unsuspecting victims on the phone to tell them that there is a warrant out for their arrest on bogus charges. | Unsplash/René Ranisch
Scammers are pretending to be police officers and calling unsuspecting victims on the phone to tell them that there is a warrant out for their arrest on bogus charges. | Unsplash/René Ranisch
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is sounding the alarm about a phone scheme designed to bilk metro area residents out of their money.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta News, scammers are pretending to be police officers and calling unsuspecting victims on the phone to tell them that there is a warrant out for their arrest on bogus charges.
The scammer then claims that they can help if the victims agree to pay a fee for services, with the money exchanging hands when the victim meets the suspect at an agreed upon location. In some instances, the scammers were even brazen enough to agree to meet the victims inside the parking lot of the sheriff's office.
Authorities stress that no sheriff's office will ever contact a person by phone and ask for payment to avoid arrest or personal information and advises anyone receiving any such call to alert the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
"You are being targeted by a criminal," Chief Deputy Randy Akies said, according to Fox 5 News. "Just hang up. Do not engage in conversation with the caller and please do not give them any personal or financial information such as social security card or bank account numbers."
Victims or those with information are encouraged to contact the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office by phone at 404-298-8200 or 404-298-8282.
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