LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – Greenbrier County Sheriff Bart Baker is issuing a public warning to residents about a series of fraudulent schemes that have recently targeted and victimized several people in the area. The scams, which often involve impersonating law enforcement or government officials, are designed to coerce victims into sending money.
According to Sheriff Baker, the most prevalent scam involves a caller who identifies themselves as a law enforcement officer and falsely claims there is an arrest warrant for the victim. The perpetrator often uses the name of an actual officer and alleges that the victim missed jury duty or a court appearance. The caller then uses threats and intimidation to pressure the victim into withdrawing cash and purchasing Bitcoin or gift cards to “settle” the matter. In some cases, the scammer will even send fake arrest warrants with the victim’s name on them to make the threat seem real.
“These are not the actual tactics of real law enforcement,” Sheriff Baker stated. “Any bonds, bail, or fines are collected at an actual courthouse. If there is an actual warrant for a person’s arrest, that person is arrested, processed, arraigned and then bond is set and paid at the court.”
Sheriff Baker noted that once money is sent via Bitcoin, it is “virtually impossible to recover.” He also highlighted other common scams, including calls from individuals claiming to be from the IRS with a warrant for unpaid taxes or from Social Security with a fraudulent number-use claim—all of which demand money.
To help residents protect themselves, Sheriff Baker provided a list of tips to follow if they receive a suspicious call:
Do not give any personal information to the caller, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, banking information or address.
Hang up immediately and contact authorities using a phone number you know to be correct.
Never send money through Bitcoin, gift cards, Western Union, or by mailing cash. Legitimate law enforcement agencies do not solicit money in this manner.
If the caller claims you missed court, tell them you will handle the issue directly at the courthouse and hang up.
Always contact local law enforcement, the Magistrate’s office, or the Circuit Court to confirm if you have a missed court date.
Before sending any money, always verify the request by contacting local law enforcement.
Sheriff Baker hopes this information will help educate the public and prevent future victims from falling prey to these highly skilled scams. He encourages anyone with questions to contact his office.
