The scam works by the scammer calling individuals and claiming to be a member of the Clay County Sheriff's Office. A scammer who claims to be "Sergeant Hays" is calling people locally saying they need to pay him or get arrested on a warrant, telling victims pay him $3,000 via Zelle or ApplePay. He may say that the individual has missed jury duty or that there is a warrant for their arrest. The scammer then tells the individual that they can pay a fine over the phone to avoid arrest or additional penalties. In some cases, the scammer may even threaten to send the police to the individual's home if they do not pay the fine.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office notes that it's personnel will never ask for payment over the phone and will not threaten to send the police to an individual's home. The Sheriff's Office will also not ask for personal information such as a social security number or credit card information over the phone. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the Clay County Sheriff's Office and they are asking for money or personal information, it is a scam.
If you have received a call that you suspect may be a scam, it is important to report it to the proper authorities. You can contact the Clay County Sheriff's Office to report the scam and they will investigate the incident. Additionally, you can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting their website at ftc.gov or by calling their toll-free number at 1-877-382-4357.
To protect yourself from these types of scams, it is important to be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, especially those that ask for money or personal information. If you receive a call from an individual or organization that you do not know, do not provide them with any information. Instead, hang up the phone and report the call to the proper authorities. Additionally, consider using call-blocking features offered by your phone service provider or a third-party app to block these types of unwanted calls.
In summary, Telephone scam is a serious crime and it's important to be vigilant to protect yourself. If someone calls you and claims to be a representative of the Clay County Sheriff's Office and is asking for money or personal information, it is a scam and you should hang up the phone and report it to the proper authorities. The Scammer leaves messages and asks people to call him back at 816-406-1160, if you're feeling feisty and want to waste his time, oblige him.
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