HANCOCK — The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department issued a scam alert today urging the community to be cautious of fraudulent calls from individuals spoofing the department’s phone number and falsely identifying themselves as law enforcement officers.
According to the sheriff’s department, the scammers are contacting residents, claiming the individuals are wanted and must pay a specific sum of money to avoid arrest.
The method of the scam echoes a similar fraudulent scheme from a few years ago, where victims were instructed to purchase Bitcoin and provide certificate numbers for payment.
Officials stressed that legitimate law enforcement agencies will never ask for money over the phone or direct anyone to buy cryptocurrencies or gift certificates as a means of payment.
The department advises that if anyone receives such a call, they should hang up immediately and refrain from sharing any personal information.
The sheriff’s department encourages the public to remain vigilant and to spread the word about the scam to help protect others in the community.
