ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an increase in scams involving Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency.
According to the sheriff’s office, scammers are calling residents and claiming they have an outstanding warrant, missed jury duty, failed to appear in court or have another legal issue.
The callers then demand immediate payment, often through Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency ATM, while claiming the payment will prevent the resident from being arrested.
The sheriff’s office said the calls are scams and warned residents that law enforcement will not call to inform someone of a warrant and demand payment to make it go away.
Law enforcement also will not demand Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency to clear a warrant.
Residents who receive such a call should hang up and avoid providing personal, banking or cryptocurrency information. They also should not follow instructions from callers to withdraw cash or deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM.
The sheriff’s office encouraged residents to share the warning with family members, friends and others who may be vulnerable to these types of scams.
Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by AVC News
