Sheriff’s Office Warns Residents of Impersonation Scams

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of scammers contacting community members while posing as deputies. These schemes, commonly referred to as Impersonation Scams, involve fraudsters pretending to be law enforcement officers or other authority figures. The scammers often threaten victims with arrest unless they send money. In other cases, they claim that a family member or loved one has been arrested and needs money for bail.

Once a victim pays the fraudulent fine or bond, the scammer may demand additional payments for fictitious court costs or attorney fees. Common forms of payment requested by scammers include gift cards, wire transfers, and digital currency such as Bitcoin. While the initial amount requested may seem small, the demands often escalate to thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, once the money is sent, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recover.

Recently, a local resident was contacted by a scammer claiming to be a deputy with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office. The caller falsely stated the resident had an outstanding warrant for their arrest. Unfortunately, the victim complied with the scammer’s demands and lost thousands of dollars. Several other Clinton County residents have reported receiving similar calls.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office wants residents to remember the following:

• The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office does not call individuals to notify them of arrest warrants.
• Arrest warrants cannot be resolved by making payments over the phone, online, or through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• Never send money or provide personal information to unknown callers.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office using a known phone number to verify the information.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a scam or who has information regarding fraudulent activity is encouraged to contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office at (937) 382-1611.

Sheriff Douglas A. Eastes