Earlier today a physician’s assistant in Charleston was contacted by someone claiming to be a Deputy Sheriff with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect identified himself as Stephen Warren and gave a badge number. Even the number from which the call came was masked to appear on caller ID as coming from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect told the victim she’d missed jury duty, and needed to get $2,000.00 in pre-paid credit cards and give him the number over the phone before coming to the courthouse. The victim did so.
Later the victim called the Charleston Police Department to file a report, realizing it was a scam. We were also informed since our agency’s name was again used. The latest reports of this scam seem to be targeting members of the medical community like doctors and physician’s assistants.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office will never demand payment over the phone. And if you receive a call from a Deputy or anyone else from our agency you may contact our office directly (304-357-0169) to verify the information, or come to the courthouse to meet with the Deputy in person in a safe area.
Please do not fall for this scam.