FLORENCE, SC (WBTW)- Investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office say they have received complaints of phone scams in which scammers are claiming to be deputies with the sheriff’s office.
Investigators say after getting the victims on the line, the scammers tell the victims that they failed to report for jury duty and a bench warrant has been issued for their arrest. The victims are then told that in order to avoid prosecution, they can go to a local store and transfer $500 on to prepaid gifts cards and then provide the scammer with the card numbers. Next, they are asked to report to the Florence County Courthouse or the Florence County Detention Center to turn in the cards to a specific person.
The victims are told by the scammer not to report the transaction to family members or their spouses. Officials warn the caller ID may indicate that the call is from a number in the 843 area code, but experts say it is likely a computer phone that is located out of the country. The caller may even have a southern accent and sound very pleasant, officers say.
Officials say if there is an outstanding bench warrant for you from the court, you won’t get a phone call but you will get a personal visit from an officer. The sheriff’s office will never instruct anyone to pay a fine by way of a prepaid gift or credit card.
Anyone with questions regarding these scam is asked to please contact Investigators at (843) 665-2121, ext. 374.
