Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron would like to alert citizens of a telephone scam that is occurring in the Front Royal/Warren County area. The sheriff’s office has received numerous reports of citizens receiving collect telephone calls. The caller may identify himself as a deputy sheriff or may state that he is calling from a correctional facility. The caller may also say that there is a medical emergency and your telephone number is listed as the emergency contact. The caller then tells the person they need to call a nurse at a given telephone number. They are instructed to start the call off by dialing *72 followed by a telephone number. If you dial the number, it allows the suspect to access long distance calls on your line and the calls will be billed to you.
Our investigation has proven that this person is not a deputy with the sheriff’s office and the caller identification is only displayed as coming from a payphone.
If you receive a call of this nature do not accept the collect call or call the telephone number given. If you do, your telephone account will be billed. If you have any additional information please contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 540-635-4128.
