Madison County Sheriff’s Office issues warning about local scam
Published 1:16 pm Friday, August 9, 2024
MADISON COUNTY – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is alerting residents to an ongoing phone scam in which perpetrators are posing as members of the MCSO.
Over the past month, officers said multiple residents have reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be MCSO personnel, using the names of real officers, and even directing residents to a legitimate MCSO address. In each instance, the scammers informed residents of outstanding warrants or fines in their name, allegedly related to unpaid citations or failure to appear for jury duty. The scammers then demanded payment, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, to resolve the supposed issues.
“The MCSO urges residents to be cautious and not fall victim to this scam,” a Facebook post by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office stated. “It is essential to verify the authenticity of any calls or messages claiming to be from the MCSO or any other law enforcement agency. Residents should never provide personal or financial information to unknown callers and should contact the MCSO directly to verify the legitimacy of any claims.”
“Scammers are utilizing the names of actual staff members from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and authentic office addresses to create a false sense of legitimacy in their fraudulent schemes,” said Sheriff Kevin Turner. “Residents must remain vigilant and aware of these tactics. Our staff will never threaten arrest or demand payment for fines over the phone. Furthermore, no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever request payment for fines using pre-paid cards, Venmo, or Bitcoin. This clearly indicates a scam, and residents should be cautious of such requests.”
If you have received a suspicious call or message claiming to be from the MCSO, please report it to the agency immediately.
