The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office and Marshland Credit Union are warning residents of potential scammers.
The sheriff’s office says it has become aware of the scam and is alerting the public. No arrests have been announced in connection with the scheme.
Marshland Credit Union has received reports of fraudulent phone calls which appear to be coming from Marshland Credit Union’s main phone number, 912-2792000.
Scammers are calling, texting, and emailing Brantley County residents while pretending to be federal marshals — and sending fake court documents to make the threat look real, the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office warned Thursday, June 25.
The scammers tell people they have an arrest warrant, missed jury duty, failed to appear in court, or owe money that must be paid to avoid being arrested. To back up the claim, they send documents that look like official federal court paperwork.
One example shared by the sheriff’s office shows a fake U.S. District Court arrest warrant demanding 10 percent of $30,000 — or $3,000 — described as a “Court-Ordered Security Public Safety Assessment.”
The fake documents are designed to appear legitimate. The example shared by the sheriff’s office includes a case number, two counts — failure to appear and contempt of court — and signatures from people listed as law enforcement officers.
The U.S. Marshals Service does not call people to demand payment over the phone to avoid arrest.
If you get one of these calls, texts, or emails, hang up or do not respond. Do not send money in any form — including gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
Do not give out personal or financial information. If you have already sent money or shared personal information, contact your bank or financial institution right away and report it to the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone who receives one of these contacts is asked to report it to the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office has not said how many people have been targeted or whether any money has been lost.
As for Marshland Credit Union, the bank stated scammers can spoof phone numbers to make a call look legitimate.
Marshland Credit Union will never call you to ask for sensitive personal information, including your online banking credentials, debit card PIN, or one-time verification codes.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not provide any personal information. Hang up and contact us directly at (912) 279-2000 if you have any questions or concerns.
