Ware County Sheriff Carl James is warning residents about a sophisticated phone scam targeting family members of recently arrested individuals.
Scammers are actively monitoring public arrest records on our website. They use this inmate information to find and look up the phone numbers of the arrestee's family members using online public directories.
The scammers then call the family members, claiming to be court officials, legal representatives, or law enforcement officers.
They demand immediate payment over the phone for fake “pretrial diversion programs” or legal fees to secure their family member’s release.
The Ware County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens of the following rules related to this and other scams.
• Verify the caller: Never trust the caller ID, as numbers can be easily spoofed to look like official county or court lines.
• No phone payments: The Ware County Sheriff’s Office and local court systems will never call to demand payment over the phone, nor will a request gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency be made.
• Hang up and call WCSO: If you receive a suspicious call regarding an inmate, hang up immediately and call the Sheriff’s Office at (912) 287-4323 to check the status of your family member.
If you or a family member have received one of these calls, contact the Sheriff’s Office to report the incident.
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