Putnam County Sheriff warns of law enforcement impersonation scam

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to residents regarding a new scam involving individuals impersonating law enforcement and government agencies. Scammers are reportedly calling victims claiming to represent the Putnam County Sheriff's Office or the U.S. Marshals Service.

These fraudulent callers use threats of arrest or legal action to create a sense of urgency, demanding that victims immediately move money, purchase gift cards, or transfer funds to a “safe” account. The Sheriff's Office clarified that they will never call to demand money, instruct residents to move funds to avoid arrest, or request payments via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.

Authorities advise residents to hang up immediately if they receive a suspicious call and to contact the Sheriff's Office directly using a trusted phone number rather than any number provided by the caller.