Sheriff’s office warns of phone scams

Published 10:28 pm Thursday, May 24, 2018

In March, several Pike County residents reported pickeing up their phones to hear that they had missed a jury summons and that a warrant would be served for their arrests. The only solution, the callers said, would be to go to a local store, get a “Greendot” card and give the confirmation number to pay a fine.

According to Lt. Troy Johnson of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the scammers are back at it again and even succeeded in wiling away $3,000 from one victim this month.

“We’ve had multiple calls coming back into our office,” Johnson said. “If anybody receives a phone call to go get money on some type of card or send money through Western Union, it is a scam. We encourage you to contact our office at 566-4347.”

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Johnson said they’re still working on filing the report from the victim, but the charge would constitute first-degree theft of property or theft by deception, both felonies.