WCBC

April 26th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office received a theft scheme complaint Wednesday morning. The complainant advised that he received a phone call, on his cellular phone, from an unknown individual claiming to be a Deputy Sheriff from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department. The caller advised that there was an open warrant for the individual’s immediate arrest. The caller was convincing and stated to the complainant that he could get out of the warrant by paying a fine in the amount of $972.00. 


The caller instructed the subject to obtain a “GREEN DOT “card, in the amount of $972.00, from a local store. The caller further advised that he would stay on the phone with the complainant and walk him through the process. The complainant did as the caller requested and obtained “GREEN DOT” cards for that amount. The information from the cards was then given to the caller, at which time he told the complainant that the warrant would be terminated.


Please be advised that the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, along with any other Police agency, would not make any such call to a citizen. These types of calls are scams and are not legitimate in nature. “GREEN DOT” cards are basically prepaid debit cards which scammer likes to use because the money is transferred immediately over a phone. 

Sheriff Craig Robertson issued the alert.

"If anyone receives any such call, I am asking you to please hang up and DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. Never provide any personal information over the phone. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at my office, (301) 777-1585 ext. 113 and leave me a message."