Sheriff warns of scammer impersonating deputy

If you get a call from someone alleging to be Deputy Mark Williams or Lt. McMillan — you're getting scammed.

A local 810 phone number is contacting local residents and using the above names, claiming the person they are calling has warrants and must make a payment via a Bitcoin kiosk or be arrested, according to a warning from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office.

"The caller does appear to use many official sounding terms and even local names to convince the caller of their legitimacy. The voicemail upon callback also claims to be the Sheriff’s Office," according to the press release.

"The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will never contact you to inform you of a warrant, let alone to demand payment.  Bitcoin, gift cards, or anything of the like, is not a valid form of payment for many legitimate transactions. Please use caution when answering the phone to numbers that are unfamiliar to you. It is also crucial to be cognizant of who you are providing personal information to."

If you receive any suspicious calls, the sheriff department advises to not send money and contact your local police department. The St. Clair County Sheriff main telephone number is (810) 987-1700. Residents concerned about the legitimacy of a call can to reach out to confirm.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Sheriff warns of scammer impersonating deputy