Deputies in the Upstate area say scammers are calling while posing as police officers, and a scary call can cost you money or personal details.
Sheriff's deputies in the Upstate area are warning residents about phone calls from people who pretend to be law enforcement. The callers try to scare you into acting fast. The warning was reported by WSPA 7News.
The scam works on fear. A caller claims to be a police officer and suggests you are in some kind of trouble. Then comes the pressure to act right away. That rush is the trick. Scared people tend to skip the questions they would normally ask.
Real police do not demand payment or personal details over the phone. If a caller does, that alone is a sign the call is not real.
Anyone with a phone could get one of these calls. Older adults and people who may panic when told they are in trouble with the law are most at risk. Anyone who stays calm and checks first is in much better shape.
The alert box above lists the steps. The main idea is simple: do not deal with the caller. Hang up, then look up your local sheriff's office yourself and call that number. Also tell family members, since the people most likely to be targeted may not read news like this.
The report does not say how many people have been called, whether anyone has lost money, or what the callers say in detail. It also does not name a specific department or give a time frame. Check with your local sheriff's office for updates.
If a caller says they are police and wants money or personal details, hang up and call your local sheriff's office on a number you look up yourself.
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