Sheriff Bobby Smith, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has become aware of a warrant scam that Is currently occurring within the Golden Triangle area. A warrant scam is a phone or mail scam where someone claims there is a warrant out for your arrest, and you need to pay a fine or fee to avoid jail time. Scammers may use fake caller IDs to appear to be from a law enforcement agency. They may claim the warrant is for a traffic violation, missed jury duty, or other infractions.
Here are some tips to avoid a warrant scam:
- Don’t pay over the phone – Courts will never call to collect a fine without first sending written documentation.
- Don’t share personal information – Government representatives will never ask for confidential information over the phone.
- Don’t send money – Don’t wire money, send cash, or use gift cards or cryptocurrency to pay someone who says they’re with the government.
- Report the call – If you receive a suspicious call, report it to your local law enforcement agency.
Sheriff Smith wants the public to be assured that the Sheriff’s Office will never call anyone demanding money or threatening to arrest individuals if payment isn’t promptly paid.
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