BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about an ongoing phone scam involving individuals falsely claiming to represent the department.
According to officials, scammers have been contacting residents by phone or voicemail, claiming that the recipient owes fines and faces arrest if payment is not made immediately.
These individuals often demand payment in the form of gift cards—a common tactic in fraudulent schemes.
The scammers are reportedly using caller ID spoofing apps to make it appear as though the calls are coming from the Sheriff’s Office.
In some cases, they reference real deputies or staff members to make the call seem more legitimate.
Sheriff Frank Priddy and Chief Deputy Frankie Shelton emphasized that the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office does not collect fines or demand payments over the phone.
Anyone who is unsure about the legitimacy of a call is urged to contact the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office directly at 304-255-9300 or visit their office at 308 Ned Payne Drive in Beckley.
Scams of this nature have been reported across the country.
