SCAM ALERT:
YORK COUNTY, SC - Recently Deputies have taken reports of scams of a person impersonating a Sergeant at the York County Sheriff’s Office and an online dating scam.
The Fake Sergeant scam is one in which the caller claiming to be a Sheriff's Deputy stats the victim has a warrant out for their arrest. In this case, the scammer who claimed to be a Sgt. Jason Cook, tells the victim to get a prepaid gift card to take care of the fine for the arrest warrant.
First, there is NO Sgt. Jason Cook who works with the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Second, York County Deputies will NEVER call on the phone and demand money for an active arrest warrant. This scam has been going around for years. Don’t fall for this scam. The scammers will not want the physical gift card; they just want the account number on the card. Once the scammer gets that card information, the money you placed on the card is near instantaneously gone and most likely impossible to get back.
Third, this scammer has created a phone tree using a number that doesn't belong to the YCSO on a voicemail similar to the one you receive if you can the Sheriff’s Office after normal business office hours. For example “press one to speak with a Deputy, Press 2 to speak with a 911 operator.” Don't press anything, hang up and call 803-628-3059 if you have concerns.
Scammers will even spoof our number (803-628-3059) to show up on your caller ID as if the call is originating from the York County Sheriff’s Office.
When in doubt just hang up the phone and call 803-628-3059 to speak with a REAL Deputy about any phone scam you may have been a part of.
Dating App Scam:
Another scam Deputies is a website dating app scam. In two cases on the ‘Plenty of Fish’ dating app, victims are matched with a person. When the victim begins a conversation with his “match” the scammer sends nude photos of the girl they believe owns the profile. Within a day the victim received a call from a so called Detective from a police department stating the victim now has a warrant for arrest for sending and receiving nude photos of a juvenile, who the victim believed to be 18 years of age or older.
In this case, the “Dad” of the juvenile calls the victim later demanding $1,200 to “make it (the warrant) go away.”
York County Deputies investigating this case actually spoke to the so called Detective and determined it was a scammer and the suspect yelled and cussed at the Deputy.
Learn more about these and other scams and information to protect yourself from the FBI