The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is warning local residents about a scam designed to defraud people out of money that recently occurred in the county.
A 50-year-old Crystal City woman was scammed out of $174 on June 6, after her brother called her and said someone who claimed to be a lieutenant with the Sheriff’s Office was trying to reach her. The caller claimed the woman had missed jury duty and as a result, the judge had issued a warrant for her arrest, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The scammer used the names of an actual Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and a Jefferson County Circuit judge, which the culprit could have been found on the county’s website, the report said.
After the woman learned about the scammer’s messages, she called the number he had left, and he told her that if she didn’t pay $174, a deputy would come to arrest her “within the hour.” The scammer told the woman to use a prepaid PayPal card to send the money, the report said.
If she sent the money, the scammer said, the woman would get a new court date, according to the report.
The woman paid the $174 and two days later, on June 8, she reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy called the number the scammer left, and the man who answered identified himself as a lieutenant with the Sheriff’s Office. After the deputy identified himself, though, the man on the line said he was with the music group Jefferson Starship and wished the deputy “good luck with his investigation,” the report said.
Capt. Ron Arnhart said this scam is new to the area but has occurred in other states.
The Sheriff’s Office warns people against sending any money if they get a similar phone call.
Instead, local residents who get a suspicious call from someone asking for money are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515.