The Boone County has issued a warning regarding another phone scam in the region. In this one, a caller tries to get the victim to purchase a prepaid gift card to pay the fine for a missed grand jury assignment.
Earlier this week, the Sheriff’s office warned of a scam involving the Internal Revenue Service.
The Sheriff’s office has issued the following release regarding the most recent scam:
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of scams and attempted scams within the last few days wherein a caller identifies himself as a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy and informs the victim they have an arrest warrant for missing a grand jury assignment.
The imposter goes on to tell the victim they are receiving the courtesy call because they are a good citizen. The victim is instructed to purchase a “secured voucher” and bring it to the Sheriff’s Office located at 3000 Conrad Lane in Burlington, KY. (accurate address).
The victim is kept on the phone while they drive to the store and purchase the “secured vouchers” which are simply rechargeable gift cards.
Once that is accomplished the imposter tells the victim they need not drive out to Burlington if they just scratch off the strip on the back of the card and convey the hidden number which entitles the caller to immediately redeem the amount.
Admittedly, certain aspects of the scam ring true and we can understand why some people are taken by it.
However, Sheriff Michael A. Helmig needs everyone to understand that no matter how convincing the caller may be, it is a SCAM!
Helmig asks if you receive a call from someone identifying themselves as a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy asking you to purchase “secured vouchers” or any kind of gift cards to immediately disconnect the call and notify our dispatch center at (859) 371-1234. Sheriff Helmig reminds everyone that if they have an arrest warrant issued for them they can expect a face-to-face encounter with a deputy, not a courtesy call.
Boone County Sheriff’s office