DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office urges public to beware of telephone scammers impersonating deputies

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a current telephone scam in which suspects are impersonating DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

The scam callers attempt to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for outstanding warrants. They tell victims they can avoid arrest by withdrawing cash and “transferring” the funds to the sheriff’s office by purchasing a prepaid debit card and reading the card over the phone to satisfy the fine. The scammers also request deposits of cash into bitcoin ATMs.

“Scammers use many tactics to sound credible,”

said Chief Deputy Temetris Atkins. “They will provide information such as badge numbers, actual names of our deputies and our courthouse address,”

The scam call comes from phone number 404-751-3724, which IS NOT a sheriff’s office phone number. If you call this number back, the message sounds like an actual DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office recording but it is entirely fake. The main number for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is 404-298-8111.

“The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office will never call you regarding an outstanding warrant or demand any type of payment by phone,” said Chief Deputy Atkins. “We remind the public to stay diligent and not to share personal information or transfer funds to people you do not know.”