The Houston County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office is issuing a strong warning to residents regarding an increase in scam calls where individuals impersonate deputies and threaten arrest. The Sheriff’s Office confirms it receives between 20 to 30 calls each day from residents reporting these fraudulent attempts. These scammers are demanding money under the guise of outstanding legal issues.
Sheriff Matt Moulton stated that his office's secretary handles numerous calls daily from citizens describing interactions with these impersonators. According to Sheriff Moulton, the scammers often identify themselves as supervisors, lieutenants, or captains within the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, sometimes even using the names of actual deputies to lend credibility to their threats.
The tactics used by these scammers are designed to create a sense of urgency and fear. Sheriff Moulton explained that residents are typically told they have an active warrant for their arrest, often citing reasons such as missed jury duty or failing to pay a traffic citation. The scammers go as far as to create what appears to be an active warrant to convince their targets. They also instruct victims to remain on the phone, claiming that surveillance is underway and immediate arrest will follow if the call is disconnected.
Sheriff Moulton emphasized that the Houston County Sheriff's Office would never engage in such practices. He explicitly stated that deputies "will never call you cold" to demand payment for a warrant or fine. The scammers employ various methods to collect money, including demanding credit card payments or directing victims to cryptocurrency kiosks. In some reported cases, they initially instruct victims to drive to the Sheriff's Office for payment, only to reroute them to a cryptocurrency kiosk mid-journey, claiming an unexpected change in plans.
In response to these pervasive scams, Sheriff Moulton is urging all residents to exercise extreme caution. He advises individuals to question any unexpected calls, especially those demanding money or threatening arrest, and to always verify the identity of the person they are speaking with before taking any action. To protect personal finances, residents should change their passwords regularly and diligently monitor their credit reports and bank accounts for any suspicious activity.
If a crime is suspected or if a resident believes they have been targeted by or fallen victim to a scam, Sheriff Moulton stresses the importance of notifying their local law enforcement agency immediately. Staying alert and verifying calls before sending any money is critical to safeguarding against these fraudulent schemes.
