Are the police after you for an accident?

By Katie Ritchie

What would you do if you got a call from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department? The deputy on the phone claims he needs to discuss a traffic violation with you. He claims you’re accused of a hit-and-run accident and you need to clear your name.

Captain Adam Myrick, Public Information Officer, says the department never handles law enforcement by phone.

I reached out to him because a reader got an alarming call. She was right to worry! The man on the phone claimed he was with the Sheriff’s Department. He accused her of fleeing an accident. Then he started asking her questions. She knew something wasn’t right and hung up the phone.

Others might not be so lucky.

Captain Myrick warns that scams like this happen more often than you’d think. The script scammers use varies from week to week, but the basic idea is similar. Myrick said Lexington County deputies won’t call about: jury duty, arrest warrants, speeding tickets, or traffic collision reports. They will not conduct financial transactions over the phone. They also do not accept gift cards as payment.

These are all red flags that you have a scammer on the phone.

If something like this happens to you, don’t panic.

Ask the “deputy” for their name. Then end the call, and contact the desk of the department they claimed to be with. For Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, that number is 803-785-8230. Ask to speak to the deputy by name. That should clear the matter up, and ease your mind about the alleged charges.

Next week I’ll share other types of jury duty scams and how you can protect yourself.