CAMDEN COUNTY, N.C. — The Camden County Sheriff’s Office has issued a scam warning after at least two citizens received scam calls.
The office posted on Facebook that the citizens received calls regarding not showing up for jury duty. The calls purported to be from Sgt. Danny Egan with the sheriff’s office and left the office’s legitimate phone number for a return call. The scammer told his targets that they should pay a fine electronically to avoid being arrested.
The sheriff’s office said the court accepts only cash or a certified check from a bank in person as payment, with the exception of fines for traffic offenses, which can be paid through an online state website.
The office does have a Sgt. Danny Egan, but nobody with the office asks citizens to transfer money to them electronically, the post stated.
These kinds of scams are common, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC gives the following tips on how to avoid these scams:
- Don’t wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app to pay someone who says they’re with the government. Scammers insist you can only pay these ways because it’s hard to track that money, and just as hard to get it back. They’ll take your money and disappear.
- Don’t give your financial or personal information to someone who calls, texts, emails, or messages you on social media and says they’re with the government. If you think a call or message could be real, stop. Hang up the phone and call the government agency directly at a number you know is correct. If the call is a robocall, don’t press any numbers. Pressing numbers could lead to more calls.
- Don’t trust your caller ID. Your caller ID might show the government agency’s real phone number or name — like “Social Security Administration.” But caller ID can be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world.
- Don’t click on links in unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages. Scammers send emails and messages that look like they’re from a government agency but are designed to steal your money and personal information. Don’t click on any link, and don’t pass it on to others. Just delete the message.
- If you receive an impersonation scam, notify the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, your state attorney general, and the government agency in question.
