TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio — The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in scam calls involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are using partial names of actual deputies to make the calls appear legitimate. Callers may claim a person has an active arrest warrant and must make an immediate payment to avoid being arrested.
Officials said scammers may sound professional, provide convincing details and pressure victims to act before they have time to verify the information. The Sheriff’s Office advises residents to stop, take a breath, hang up and verify the caller’s claims independently.
The Sheriff’s Office said it will not call residents demanding payment to clear an arrest warrant. Deputies also will not ask residents to purchase gift cards, send cryptocurrency, wire money or provide financial information over the phone to avoid arrest.
Residents who receive a suspicious call should contact the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office directly at 330-339-2000 rather than using a number provided by the caller. Officials said scammers may know a person’s name or use the name of a real deputy, but that information does not mean the call is legitimate.
