St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King is warning the public about a scam making the rounds in the county.

A local 810 number is contacting residents and pretending to be either “Deputy Mark Williams” or “Lt. McMillan,” sheriff’s office officials said in a news release. The caller says the person has warrants and must make a payment through a Bitcoin kiosk or they will be arrested. They appear to use many official-sounding phrases and even local names to convince the person of their legitimacy. The voicemail when called back also pretends to be from the sheriff’s office.

“The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will never contact you to inform you of a warrant, let alone to request payment,” officials said. “Bitcoin, gift cards, or anything similar are not a valid form of payment for many legitimate transactions. Please use caution when answering calls to numbers you are unfamiliar with. It is also important to be aware of who you are giving personal information to.”

If anyone receives suspicious calls, they are advised not to send money and to contact their local police department. Anyone who has doubts about the legitimacy of a call is asked to call to confirm. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office main phone number is 810-987-1700.

Originally published: August 20, 2024 at 9:27 am