CCSO CARE Alert: Campbell County Sheriff's Office Issues Warning About Phone “Spoof” Scam Impersonating Law Enforcement
RUSTBURG, VA - The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to an ongoing phone scam in which individuals are “spoofing” the Sheriff’s Office phone number and impersonating members of the agency.
Scammers are calling members of the public and falsely identifying themselves as Captain Cory Angell of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office. The caller claims the individual must bring a large sum of money—reportedly as much as $20,000 in cash—to the Sheriff’s Office immediately to resolve a supposed legal matter.
These calls are NOT legitimate.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office does not contact citizens by phone to demand cash payments, request gift cards, or instruct individuals to bring money to the Sheriff’s Office to avoid arrest or resolve warrants.
Phone number “spoofing” technology allows scammers to manipulate caller ID so it appears the call is coming from a trusted source, including a legitimate law enforcement agency. Even if the caller ID displays the Sheriff’s Office phone number, the call may be fraudulent.
How to Protect Yourself from Spoof Scams
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to take the following precautions:
- Do not provide personal or financial information over the phone to unsolicited callers.
- Never send or bring cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency in response to a phone call.
- Be cautious of urgent or threatening language. Scammers often pressure victims to act immediately.
- Hang up immediately if you suspect the call is fraudulent.
- Verify independently by contacting the agency directly using the official phone number listed on the Sheriff’s Office website or other trusted sources.
- Discuss suspicious calls with family members, particularly elderly relatives who are often targeted by scammers.
Report Suspicious Calls
If you receive a call of this nature:
- Do not engage with the caller.
- Document the phone number, time of call, and any details provided.
- Contact the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office using its official non-emergency number (434-332-9574) to report the incident or verify the legitimacy of any communication.
If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.
The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the community and encourages all residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
Be alert. Be safe. Spread the word.