Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office warns public of current telephone scam

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a current telephone scam going around the Mahoning Valley.

Sheriff Jerry Greene said officials would like to alert the community and provide tips to avoid becoming a victim of the scams.

“Area residents should be aware individuals have been posing as Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office ranking officers, sometimes using fake names and other times using the names of actual Sheriff’s Office employees, and contacting residents via telephone,” he said.

Greene said the scammers accuse the resident of not showing up for jury duty, a subpoena or a Court Order. They then demand that a fine be paid to the Sheriff’s Office in cash, bitcoin or gift cards.

“The callers then make the threat that if the fine is not paid, the Sheriff’s Office is going to come to arrest the resident,” Greene said.

Greene emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office would never solicit funds or personal information under threat of any kind over the phone. He said the office would also not give an individual advanced warning that officers were coming to arrest anyone.

Officials provided these tips to avoid becoming a victim of these scams:

• Hang up on unexpected requests.
• Do not use provided contact information.
• Avoid clicking links in random messages.
• Refuse irregular payment demands.
• Never send money to someone you have not met face-to-face.

“The phone numbers often used and given are not traceable numbers, therefore, other than educating the public that these are scams, there is little that law enforcement can do after you’ve been victimized,” Greene said. “Please be aware and do not permit these scammers to prey on our community.”