YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Callers pretending to be the York County sheriff and his deputies have managed to steal thousands of dollars from residents.
"They’ve used my name twice," Sgt. Kevin Casey with the York County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. "He had a very Southern accent, which, clearly, I do not.”
The sheriff's office is warning residents about the imposters with the hope of preventing anyone else from getting tricked.
"How this works is, they’ll call you and say I’m deputy ... with the York County Sheriff’s Office and you have failed to report for jury duty and there’s now a warrant for your arrest," Sheriff Kevin Tolsen explained. "And that's when they began to invoke the fear into these people."
The sheriff's office has received nine complaints from people who have received these calls. Of those nine, four sent the imposters money before learning the truth. In total, investigators believe the callers have managed to collect at least $12,000.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
"People here in the county are getting scammed out of their money and that’s the most important thing to us," Casey said.
In 2023, the sheriff's office investigated 829 reports of fraud. Among those cases, 12 involved someone impersonating law enforcement.
“We have seen an uptick in people impersonating sheriff’s deputy employees in an effort to drive fear into people to get money out of them," Tolsen said.
With nine instances such far this year, the sheriff's office wants to see this end.
"If you suspect it is a scam, hang up," Tolsen said.
The sheriff's office says they never collect money through apps such as Cash App or Venmo. Anyone who believes they may have received one of these phone calls, should contact the York County Sheriff's Office or call 803-628-3059.
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
Emotional appeal - Any pitch that ratchets up your emotion will inhibit your rational judgment.
Sense of urgency - You MUST act now, or else.
Request for unorthodox payment - Gift cards, prepaid credit cards, wire transfers, etc.
Explanations that don't ring true - If your new “landlord” can’t show you the inside of the house, that could be because they don’t own it.
You won, now pay up - It’s not a prize if you have to pay for it. Taxes, fees, shipping, whatever.
Too good to be true - That’s because it’s not true. Sorry, your long-lost relative didn’t die, leaving you millions. That car you bought online for a third of its Kelly Blue Book value doesn’t really exist. The son of a billionaire diamond broker didn’t “swipe right” on you and fall instantly in love. That work-at-home job paying you hundreds of dollars an hour for stuffing envelopes isn’t real.
Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.