Documents in new scam appear to come from Department of Justice

JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) –Officials with the Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office are warning about a new scam.

Deputy Sheriff Matt Lytle says the scam appeared this week.

“We’ve got four pictures, and they’re on our Facebook page, of pictures that these scammers have sent individuals trying to make them believe this is more legitimate,” says Lytle.

Deputy Lytle says if you pay close attention the documents, you can find some discrepancies.

“On the documents, if you look closely, there will be certain words that are cut off and not fully readable,” says Lytle.  “If you read some of the verbiage it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Lytle says scammers are pretending to be deputies with the Sheriff’s Office.

They tell people they have a warrant out for their arrest and they need to pay them to make it go away.

“We’ve had a couple people come to the sheriff’s office this past week in tears. Thinking they did have a warrant or they were in trouble and we obviously did confirm to them that it was indeed a scam.”

He says they send emails, call people from a local area code and even send stuff in the mail.

“They’re very manipulative. They give badge numbers and they sound legitimate, but they are not. Just hang up the phone.”

Lytle reminds people that officials will never call and ask for payment. Nor will they call and tell you that you have a warrant.

He adds,  you should report a scam to the Sheriff’s Office if you are contacted