Police: Beware of Phone Scammers Demanding Money

The police are warning Paulding County residents about a phone scam that has burned several people in the past week.

On its Facebook page, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office says that a number of county residents fell victim to the scam, in which the scammer says they’re with the IRS or a local police department. In each case, the caller claimed that the resident owed them money, and that they had to pay or they would be arrested.

“No legitimate government entity or law enforcement agency will ever tell you that you owe them money and ask you to pay it over the telephone,” the sheriff’s office says. “They will NEVER tell you that if you do not pay the money, you will have a warrant issued for your arrest.”

If you get a call from one of these scammers, tell him or her that you are calling real law enforcement officers and hang up, says the sheriff’s office. If you have questions, call the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (770) 443-3015.