(WNY News Now) – The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to a phone scam involving fraudulent threats and demands for payment to avoid arrest.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and local courts have issued a public warning about scam phone calls targeting residents across the county. These calls falsely claim to be from members of the Sheriff’s Office and threaten individuals with arrest for allegedly failing to respond to a court summons issued by a Chautauqua County Judge.
The scam involves callers demanding immediate payment to resolve the issue and avoid arrest. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that neither law enforcement agencies, courts, nor any government officials would ever contact citizens by phone to demand payment under the threat of arrest.
Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers.
If you or someone you know receives such a call, authorities recommend taking the following steps:
- Do not engage with the caller or provide any personal information.
- Hang up immediately.
- Report the incident to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency.
Residents are also encouraged to share this warning with family, friends, and neighbors to prevent others from falling victim to this scam.
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