York County sheriff warns of phone scam where callers claim to be deputies

Police in York County are warning the public of a telephone scam where fraudulent callers claim to be high-ranking deputies are telling people to pay huge sums of money or face jail time.

Police say the calls are a scam and fraud. Deputies would never call anyone demanding money for any reason, said Bruce Bryant, York County Sheriff.

“These despicable scammers prey on the most trusting people,” said Sheriff Bryant. “We will investigate these cases and work diligently to bring these criminals to justice.”

Bryant promised a full investigation as scammers have used sheriff’s office employee names Robbie Hudgins, Kevin Jones, Jerry Hoffman and others.

Deputies have field at least six calls from concerned people claiming to have received calls from high-ranking deputies.

The callers claim that if people do not put money into an online account, that deputies will come to their home and arrest them.

One call where the scammer claimed to be Maj. Robbie Hudgins - the second in command at the sheriff’s office - led to a woman being scammed before she came to the office and met Maj. Hudgins and found out that the call was a fraud.

Another woman claimed that the caller who used the name of a lieutenant at the sheriff’s office told her that York County’s judges had met and 22 people who did not show up for federal court had to pay $985.

“The man threatened to put me in jail,” said the woman, who did not want to be identified.

York County has no federal court, said Trent Faris, a sheriff’s office spokesman, and the calls are phony.

Callers have used the following lines to try and trick people:

• “We have a warrant for your arrest.”

• “You have missed jury duty or a court date, and must pay a fine.”

• “Your (family member) is in prison and to bail them out.”

• “You must act now, or the offer won’t be good after today.”

• “You’ve won a ‘free’ gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges.”

• “You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.”

• “You don’t need to check out the warrant (or company) with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, etc.

• “You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.”

• “You can’t afford to miss this ‘high-profit, no-risk’ offer.”

Anyone who receives a call where the caller claims to be a deputy asking for money is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-628-3059.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 10:08 AM with the headline "York County sheriff warns of phone scam where callers claim to be deputies."