Sheriff's Office warns about scams

Seneca County Sheriff's Office has recently had an influx of calls indicating that scammers are calling residents in the area, claiming to be with local law enforcement or the clerk of courts. These calls are reportedly alleging that you have to pay a fee because you missed a court appearance as a witness and now have a warrant for your arrest, and the only way to resolve it is to not speak with anyone else and pay the fee directly, according to a release sent by the sheriff's office. There are other variations of these stories being used in attempts to get money, including being involved in an investigation and charges that will or have been filed. "They are even using the names of deputies and administration personnel that they are getting online or through our annual reports that are filed online," said Sheriff Fredrick Stevens, in the release. "They have even been spoofing our Sheriff's Office number and caller ID info shows up on the phone as Seneca County Sheriff's Office. This is occurring all across Ohio and other states as well." The Seneca County Sheriff's Office wants the community to know this is a scam, and that they do not call people to tell them they have a warrant and offer for them to pay to clear it up. "A warrant does not earn you a telephone call, it earns you a face-to-face visit with no prior notice from us," Stevens said, in the release. "If you receive a call that sounds suspicious, do not give your personal information out or even confirm anything they might tell you." The Sheriff's Office urges those who have any concerns about their banking or credit card information, to contact a confirmed number for that institution that can be located on a statement or official website, the release continued. Do not call the numbers the possible scammers provide as it is usually back to them. Hang up, and if you feel it is a scam or if it leaves you with questions, call your local agency directly who can tell you if it was a scam or not. "Again, we do not call you directly and solicit money, nor does the courts," Stevens added.