Pickens County Sheriff Issues Warning Over Fake Calls Targeting Residents
PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA — The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has issued a scam alert after multiple reports of fraudulent phone calls from individuals posing as sheriff’s office employees.
Authorities say the scam involves callers pretending to be deputies or staff, attempting to trick victims into providing money, personal information, or payment over the phone. In some cases, the scammers have even threatened arrest if victims failed to comply.
Scammers Impersonating Deputies Across Pickens County
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fake calls have been circulating throughout the county in recent weeks, targeting both individuals and businesses.
“No legitimate deputy or employee will ever contact citizens by phone to request payment or personal information,” officials emphasized in a statement.
Investigators believe some of these fraudulent operations may be based overseas, making them difficult to trace. The PCSO says it continues to coordinate with federal agencies to identify the sources of the calls.
Sheriff Urges Residents to Stay Alert
The Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to hang up immediately if they receive suspicious calls and to verify any communication by calling the official non-emergency line directly.
Citizens are also urged not to share credit card numbers, Social Security details, or other sensitive information with unknown callers.
Officials added that the best way to prevent these scams from succeeding is through community awareness and education.
Residents who have received similar calls can report incidents to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number for further investigation.
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