Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office warns of phone scams

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) has issued a warning to the public regarding a new wave of phone scams.

According to the RCSO, scammers are calling or leaving messages for individuals, falsely claiming to be representatives from the Sheriff’s Office.

They assert that the recipient has missed a court date and must pay a fine over the phone to avoid arrest.

The scammers further intimidate victims by discouraging them from visiting the Sheriff’s Office in person, claiming they will be arrested if they do so.

They utilize a spoofing app to make the call appear as if it is coming from the Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, they have gathered information from news articles and social media to impersonate real deputies.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that they never collect fines or money over the phone. They advise anyone receiving such calls to hang up immediately and not provide any personal information.

If there are any concerns about the legitimacy of a call, individuals should contact the Sheriff’s Office directly at (304)-255-9300 or visit the law enforcement headquarters at 308 Ned Payne Drive in Beckley.

This scam is not unique to Raleigh County and is a recurring issue across the United States.