Augusta County | Aggressive scammer threatening arrest, targeting region again

A scam involving an impersonator pretending to be a sheriff’s deputy is making the rounds again in Augusta County.

The ACSO has taken several reports recently from residents who have gotten calls demanding bitcoin and gift cards to avoid arrest.

The numbers come up as “restricted” on most phones, according to the ACSO.

The caller says they are at Lieutenant Cason, Lieutenant Greene, Deputy Cox or Deputy Roane – names likely scraped from the Internet as legit sheriff employees.

When residents don’t answer the call, a voicemail is left telling the citizen that they have a civil or jury summons or some other legal matter to discuss.

The con-artists have left various callback numbers including (540) 445-0998, (540) 445-0992 and (540) 445-0994.

The phone numbers are not associated with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging everyone to talk to their parents and grandparents to warn them about the scam.

Similar scams have made the rounds in Virginia in the last year. Last November, the Waynesboro and Harrisonburg police departments received similar reports prompting news releases to alert the public. In January, Virginia State Police warned of similar scams in Staunton and Radford.

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ICYMI

• Ten days, $15K later, Augusta County couple are victims of sweepstakes scam
• Virginia State Police: Trooper Mitchell on the line? It’s likely a scam
• Scammers using Waynesboro PD names, phone number to con residents
• Harrisonburg: Sophisticated scammers are impersonating police officers, threatening jail

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The ACSO offers this advice:

• Educate your family on this type of scam.
• Do not call the number back, no matter what the voicemail says.
• Do not engage with this person, as you may fall victim to a scam.
• No matter how aggressive the caller appears to sound, do not buy gift cards or send money to this person.
• Never give out any of your personal information to anyone if you did not initiate the call.

If you have any questions about a phone call from someone claiming to be from the ACSO or any other potential scam, call (540) 245-5333.