September 24, 2018
BEWARE THE TELEPHONE SCAMS
Investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office continue to receive complaints from victims of financial scams in Florence County. While the scams can take several forms, the most recent involves a telephone call from someone falsely claiming to be a FCSO deputy advising of an outstanding warrant for the person’s arrest. According to the scam, to avoid arrest, the victim need only verify personal information such as full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. Some even suggest that the person could avoid arrest all together by paying a fine either on line or by credit or gift card. Providing this sensitive personal information usually leads to identity theft.
The telephone number from which this most recent scam is run is (843) 773-3080. This is not a valid telephone number for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, although an official sounding voicemail message claims that it is, complete with an automated menu with an option to speak with a deputy in the warrants division. If you receive a call from this number or a voicemail directing you to call it, IT IS A SCAM! Do not call back. Just hang up.
Rest assured, if there is a warrant for your arrest, FCSO will not call you. We will just come and pick you up. We will never ask for your personal information over the telephone and we are not a collection agency for the court. You will never be asked to pay anything to prevent an arrest. That’s just not how it works!
The scammers are almost impossible to track or trace as many originate outside the United States, so there is little that local law enforcement can do. The best way to protect yourself against these scams is not to be taken in in the first place.
“We urge all Florence County residents to avoid being scammed by simply ignoring the “get out of jail”, “get rich quick” or “money for nothing” scams,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated. “Unfortunately, there are those out there who will try to steal your identity and ruin your life. As our parents always told us, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be a victim.”
END
Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
