The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about a phone and email scam in which individuals impersonate members of the sheriff’s office to demand payments for fake debts or nonexistent court fines.
Sheriff Brian Schenck said his office has received multiple reports of scammers calling residents, threatening warrants or arrests for missed court dates, and pressuring victims to pay via Venmo. In some instances, the scammers also send fraudulent emails and invoices with embedded links, attempting to add legitimacy to their demands.
Authorities warn that the scammers are able to manipulate caller identification to display what appears to be an official sheriff’s office phone number. Sheriff Schenck emphasized that residents should not engage with these callers, click on any email links, or make payments in response to such demands.
“If you receive one of these calls, simply hang up,” Schenck said. “If you believe you have been contacted by someone attempting to scam you, or if you’ve been a victim of a scam, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.”
Residents of Cayuga County are encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 315-253-1222 and press 0 to speak with a deputy. Alternatively, they can email [email protected] for assistance.
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