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Scammers Claim To Call From Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Officials Warn
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It's a new take on an old scam, officials say. Send money for a fine or you'll be put in the Fulton County jail.
But this time, scammers are using Sheriff Ted Jackson's name in their convincing calls.
Residents in Fulton County told police they were called by a member of Jackson's "senior command staff" and even one county employee fielded a phony call.
Although she said the man sounded very convincing as he threatened her with jail time unless she paid up, she knew better and called the real deputy, officials said in a news release.
"When our commander called the scammers back, the crooks had an electronic call handler instructing him to press one to speak to the person impersonating him," the release said.
Scams of this nature have been around since at least 2005 and have involved so-called court clerks or representatives calling about jury duty. The goal of calls asking for personal data such as a social security number or date of birth is often identity theft.
Officials want to remind residents neither the sheriff nor any deputy will ever call and demand payment by phone immediately.
Some con artists have enhanced the scam by spoofing the telephone number of a real government agency. When the victim receives the call, the caller ID shows the number of an actual law enforcement agency.
Officials said these scams have become a nationwide problem and criminals work different jurisdictions throughout the state of Georgia.
Deputies come to your door to execute warrants, either criminal or civil from the courts system. A deputy will not shake you down for cash or force you to put money on a reloadable credit card.
If you receive one of these scam phone calls, you can report it to a local investigator or call the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at 404-612-5100.
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