Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery recently sent out an alert regarding a concerning rise in scams targeting the community:
These scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers, claiming you have legal trouble like a warrant or missed jury duty. They then demand payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin) to “resolve the issue.”
This is a scam. Law enforcement will never ask for payment over the phone or through gift cards/cryptocurrency.
How to Stay Safe:
If you receive a suspicious call, do not engage or make any payments.
Hang up immediately and verify the information by contacting the actual law enforcement agency using official contact details.
Never provide personal or financial information over the phone.
If you think you’ve been targeted or fallen victim to this scam, please report it to Fairfield County authorities at 803-635-4141.