HENRY COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — Henry County deputies are alerting the community about a recent phone scam involving individuals impersonating law enforcement officers.

Scammers have been calling residents, pretending to be from the sheriff’s office and trying to get money or personal information.

In a September 5 Facebook post, authorities shared several tips to help residents protect themselves:

• Verify the caller: Always ask for the caller’s name, badge number, and a call-back number. Then hang up and contact the sheriff’s office directly at 276-656-4200 or 276-638-8751 to confirm their identity.

• Do not share personal information: Never give out your Social Security number, bank details, or other personal information over the phone unless you have verified the caller.
• Beware of payment demands: The sheriff’s office said it will never request payments, gift cards, or money transfers over the phone to avoid arrest or settle warrants. Any such request is a scam.
• Stay calm and alert: Scammers may use threats of arrest or other tactics to try to scare the recipient. Residents are urged to remain calm and not make any hasty decisions.

“Please share this information with friends and family to help keep our community safe. Together, we can prevent these scammers from taking advantage of others,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in the post.

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