STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers are impersonating a sheriff’s office official and demanding money under the threat of arrest.
According to the sheriff’s office, the scam has targeted residents in the Cross Creek community. The caller is using a Voice over Internet Protocol phone number and falsely claiming to be Major Bill Zigan with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. Victims are instructed to call back a phone number and are told they must pay large sums of money to resolve supposed legal issues, including citation fines or outstanding warrants.
The sheriff’s office said the calls are fraudulent and urged anyone who receives one to hang up immediately.
The agency emphasized that it will never request money over the phone to resolve warrants, fines or other legal matters. Deputies do not ask citizens to deposit money into random accounts or pay using prepaid cards to avoid arrest, officials said.
The sheriff’s office also noted that if a person has an active arrest warrant, deputies will not notify them by phone. Instead, deputies will make contact in person to serve the warrant.
Residents who receive a suspicious call claiming to be from law enforcement are encouraged not to engage with the caller and to report the incident. The sheriff’s office can be reached at 706-886-2525 or 706-886-2514. Reports can also be made through Stephens County 911 non-emergency dispatch at 706-779-3911.
Officials advised residents to let unknown numbers go to voicemail and to remain cautious, particularly during the holiday season, when scam activity often increases.
