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ELKINS -- Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon wants the public to be aware about a potential scam that is targeting residents in the area by phone.
Elbon said he received a call Monday from the Pocahontas County Sheriff's Department concerning the scam, which alleges that a member of the Randolph County Sheriff's Office is calling citizens and requesting information.
"(The Pocahontas County Sheriff Department) called our office and said people over there have been getting calls from someone saying they were a detective with our office," Elbon told The Inter-Mountain. "We confirmed with their office that we didn't have a Detective Fernandez, which is who they were saying they were. They were calling and saying it was in regards to fraudulent checks."
Elbon said several citizens stated they had received calls after he posted about the scam on social media.
"After I posted something about it, I received several responses and calls from people telling me that someone called them saying the same thing," Elbon said. "It's just another way for them to try and get money out of people… It looks like they were calling people in both Pocahontas and Randolph counties. Several people received calls while they were working at a business."
The sheriff said his office doesn't typically make calls to individuals, especially when it comes to fraudulent checks.
"Generally we will come see you if we need something," Elbon said. "If we have a worthless check warrant for you or something like that, we will just show up and handle it in person… Sometimes when we are investigating something we might call someone and ask them to come see us, but other than that we really don't call people and request something from them."
Elbon said this is the second scam in the past several months where someone was trying to acquire information from citizens through the use of a phone.
"There was a scam going around for a little while where people were getting texts on their phone and it was stating it was from a local bank," he said. "They were telling people there were issues with their bank account and things like that.
"Most of that stuff is just phishing with people trying to get your information. I advise people to never give any information over the phone."
Elbon said if you receive a call from someone saying they are from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, hang up the phone and call the office back, or stop by and see someone in person.