The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office has received multiple reports of a scam in the area.
According to a news release, suspects are calling residents and pretending to be deputies. They threaten to arrest the person who answers the phone, telling them they missed jury duty or failed to register at the polls, Sgt. B. D. Humphreys said. The suspects then try to coerce the resident into electronically sending money by purchasing a money order or pre-paid card.
Humphreys said the Sheriff's Office is urging residents to document the caller's information and report it at 304-357-0169.
He said residents who are targeted by these or similar scams should not send money to the callers.
"Under no circumstances will a Deputy Sheriff demand payment of fines electronically," Humphreys said in the news release. "While a Deputy Sheriff may call to inform someone a warrant is active for their arrest, they will encourage that person to drive to Kanawha County Magistrate Court to address the matter."
