Full Notification

The Sheriff’s Office has received several notifications over the past few days on a new tactic on a telephone scam that public safety officials continue to warn residents about. No one has reported falling victim to the scam so far but awareness is key.

In the latest version, the Sheriff’s Office telephone number shows on the potential victim’s Caller ID making the call seem legitimate. Upon answering, the potential victim in the most recent variation speaks with a male with a foreign accent, sometimes described as an “Indian sounding voice.” The caller states he has a partial social security number and needs to verify the number and other personal information. As usual, pressure is put on the victim to make a hasty decision under the threat of arrest or being sued.

Once again, never give out personal information including social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and personal identifiers over the phone. The Sheriff’s Office does not serve arrest warrants nor notify persons of arrest or lawsuits over the phone. Don’t rely on Caller ID as technology exists to spoof phone numbers and make them appear to originate from a different number. Unfortunately, the phone number given is usually impossible to track as it may originate outside the United States, might be a fake number, or could be from a throwaway phone. Scammers count on pressure tactics to make victims cooperate so never fall victim to pressure.

To report being the victim of a scam or fraud, call Hamilton County Public Safety Communications at 317-773-1282 so the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified.