Phone scammers pretending to be law enforcement officers are targeting people in Habersham County. The sheriff’s office is warning people about the scam, reminding them that its officers will never call someone demanding money.
One of the latest victims apparently was targeted after the person’s information was found online.
“Scammers call residents claiming to be from the sheriff’s office and demanding that the person go to a store and purchase a Green Dot prepaid card for the amount supposedly owed,” explains Habersham County Public Information Officer Rob Moore. “The caller claims if the potential victim does not provide them with the card access number to satisfy the specified fine, deputies will arrest that person.”
Moore says that sometimes the callers “spoof” the sheriff’s office telephone number or make it appear that they are calling from the jail, courthouse, or other location to appear legitimate when they are not.
“Scam artists prey on people’s emotions by trying to instill fear or create a sense of urgency, hoping people will act before thinking through the demands,” says Moore. “The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies will never call asking for money.”
Moore says anyone who receives such a call, no matter how convincing, should “hang up immediately.”
Green Dot cards are reloadable prepaid debit cards sold in most major retail locations in the United States. There is little law enforcement can do to recover money scam victims send through Green Dot, says Moore.
“If the sheriff’s office has a warrant for someone’s arrest, a deputy will come to the individual’s home to serve that warrant. Again, no phone calls will be made,” he stresses.
Similar scams have been reported for ‘missed jury duty’ and with threats of cutting off utilities due to missed payments.
For more information on avoiding fraud and scams, visit habershamsheriff.com/scams.
