CPD, CCSO Warn of Ongoing Phone Scam

Charleston area law enforcement agencies are waring residents about an ongoing phone scam targeting Lowcountry citizens.

Someone has been calling Charleston County residents posing as a police officer and trying to scam them into divulging credit or debit card numbers or transferring money over the phone to avoid arrest, according to statements issued by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office and Charleston Police Department.

Mount Pleasant Police have also warned residents about similar scams.

The scam goes like this: When a resident answers the call, the caller identifies himself as a sergeant, lieutenant or captain with the warrants division of the Sheriff's Office and informs the victim that a warrant is outstanding for missing a court date or unpaid traffic fines. The caller then says a deputy will arrive to arrest the victim unless they pay a fine over the phone with a credit or debit card, or transfer money to a green dot cash card and provide the PIN number.

A West Ashley woman first reported the scam to the Sheriff's Office on July 26, and a second West Ashley resident reported a similar call to the Sheriff's Office on July 27, according to CCSO incident reports. Two victims on South Battery Street reported suspicious phone calls to Charleston Police on July 31, according to a CPD incident report. Neither victim provided the caller with debit/credit card information though. 

Both CPD and CCSO investigators are looking into the case, according to statements from both agencies. They advise anyone receiving such a call to report it to local law enforcement.

"The Charleston County Sheriff's Office does not call individuals on the phone to collect monies for missed court dates," the CCSO statement reads. "Individuals who have outstanding warrants may be contacted by deputies from the Sheriff's Office in an attempt to serve the outstanding warrant, however in any transaction the individual will be met by a deputy or appear at a proper court venue where a deputy will be present. Our agency does not attempt to collect monies over the phone nor request monies to be sent via credit or prepaid cash cards."