Scammers are calling as fake deputies and threatening arrest

The Hyde County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina says scammers are phoning residents and pretending to be its deputies. The callers threaten arrest. The office says the calls are a scam meant to frighten people into handing over personal information or sending money.

What the callers say

Residents have reported calls from people claiming to be Hyde County deputies. The callers may say they have legal paperwork and are coming to arrest the person on the line. Fear is the tool here. Someone who panics may not stop to question the call.

The sheriff's office makes one point clear. Real deputies will never demand payment over the phone to avoid arrest, clear a warrant or handle legal paperwork. That single fact is the quickest test of whether a call is real.

Who it affects

Hyde County residents are the ones receiving the calls. The office asks people to share the warning with family, friends and neighbors, especially older adults who may be targeted. Anyone who gets a call like this should treat it the same way.

Some details are not known. The material does not say how many residents have been called, when the calls began or whether anyone has lost money.

The alert box above lists the steps to take. In short, hang up, then check with the sheriff's office using its official phone number, not one the caller gave you.