RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Richland County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to be on alert for two active scams targeting residents, one involving phone calls and the other through the mail.
According to Major Jim Sweat, the first scam involves callers impersonating Richland County Sheriff’s deputies. These callers advise victims that they have an active warrant for their arrest and attempt to pressure them into paying a fee to avoid being taken into custody.
“To be clear, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office will never call a person directly and request payments of fines and/or warrants,” Sweat stated.
The Sheriff’s Office advises anyone who receives such a call to contact their office at 419-774-5881 for verification.
A second scam, brought to the Sheriff’s Office’s attention by the Richland County Auditor’s Office, involves fraudulent mailings. These letters claim that a recipient’s account status has been “stagnant” for an extended period and that funds will be transferred to the state of Ohio unless the account holder verifies the information.
Officials recommend that anyone who receives this type of mailer should take steps to ensure its legitimacy before taking any action. These steps include not providing personal identifying information over the phone or internet and contacting financial institutions directly through verified contact methods.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that these types of scams are becoming more frequent and complex. Residents who suspect they have fallen victim to a scam are encouraged to contact local law enforcement.