A new telephone scam in Ohio has prompted the Preble County Sheriff's Office to issue a warning Friday and ask residents to alert authorities if they believe they've received any suspicious calls.
According to Sheriff Mike Simpson, the scam works this way:
A caller will identify himself or herself as a deputy sheriff from a particular county, and tell the resident there is an arrest warrant on the resident for failing to appear in court.
The caller tells the resident the issue can be taken care of only by posting bond by telephone and cannot be satisfied in person at court.
The caller convinces the resident to provide credit card information and funds are immediately deducted.
Simpson said that under no circumstances would a sheriff's office or law enforcement agency contact anyone by phone and demand payment using a credit card.
He said sheriffs throughout Ohio are warning residents to not provide any information to a caller asking for credit card information.
Simpson is asking you to report any suspicious phone calls to your local sheriff's office or law enforcement agency.