Dekalb Sheriff’s Office Issues New Phone Scam Warning

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning about phone scammers resurfacing in the area.

According to the department, callers have been posing as DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputies or other employees of the agency.

“The familiar scam threatens innocent victims with intimidating threats of being arrested on a warrant – that does not exist – or for not appearing to serve jury duty,” they said. “Then the scammer offers to help the victim avoid arrest by paying a fee, generally through prepaid money cards.”

Scammers have even told their victims to meet them in the sheriff’s office parking lot to pay the fraudulent fees to avoid being arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.

They rely on fear to motivate the targets to follow their instructions, the sheriff’s office said.
Senior citizens and immigrants are often the targets, they said.

“You are being targeted by a criminal,” said Chief Deputy Randy Akies in a statement. “Just hang up. Do not engage in conversation with the caller and please do not give them any personal or financial information such as social security card or bank account numbers.”

The sheriff’s office wants people to know that they will never contact them by phone asking for personal information or payment to avoid an arrest.

“If anyone calls you pretending to be a representative of this agency and asking for money, let us know by calling 404-298-8200 or 404- 298-8282,” Chief Akies said.