From the desk of Sheriff Bryson Meyers:
The Garrett County Sheriff’s Office is aware of several scams taking place within the county and surrounding areas. Residents are receiving calls stating they missed jury duty, they have an active arrest warrant, and they need to respond to the Oakland Police Department with cash. Residents are also receiving calls saying a family member is in jail and they need to withdraw a large sum of cash and someone would arrive to pick it up.
Sheriff Meyers urges residents to take the following steps and use caution when dealing with these types of phone calls/scams.
1. Never call a telephone number or use a link provided in an unsolicited text, notification, or email. If you receive unsolicited correspondence from anyone requesting you contact them, go online and find the business' or organization's public website or telephone number and only communicate with them using those publicly accessible and verified methods.
2. Trust your suspicions. If something feels wrong, it is wrong. Credible businesses or organizations will not:
• require transactions in cash
• require or request that you purchase gift cards for any reason
3. Before making any large financial transaction at the request of a third party, contact a family member or friend and see what they think.
