PUBLIC AWARENESS ALERT

Scammers Impersonating a "Surety Bond Authority" and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about an active telephone scam. Callers are falsely claiming to represent a "Surety Bond Authority," the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, or another government or law-enforcement agency.

The scammer may claim that a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to comply with jury-duty requirements, have old traffic tickets, failed to pay bridge tolls, or owe another supposed government debt. The caller may threaten that, unless the warrant is paid immediately, you will be arrested and held in custody for several days while awaiting pretrial detention.

The caller may direct you to post bond or make payment through a Bitcoin kiosk at a local business. DO NOT DO IT. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the Putnam County Circuit Court will not demand immediate payment by Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, gift card, wire transfer, or other unusual payment method over the telephone.

Caller ID is not proof that a call is legitimate. Scammers can "spoof" caller ID information so that a call appears to come from a local number or a trusted agency. Even if the number on your screen looks familiar, hang up and verify the claim using a telephone number you know is official.

Protect Yourself

• Stop and do not act under pressure. Legitimate agencies will not force you to make an immediate payment to avoid arrest.
• Do not send money. Never use a Bitcoin kiosk, cryptocurrency, gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cash at the direction of an unsolicited caller.
• Do not share personal information. Do not provide your Social Security number, date of birth, bank information, account passwords, or verification codes.
• Hang up. Do not press buttons, follow transfer instructions, or call back a number provided by the caller.
• Verify independently. Contact the agency directly using an official number-not the number shown on caller ID or supplied by the caller.
• Preserve evidence. Save voicemail messages, screenshots, telephone numbers, receipts, Bitcoin kiosk details, transaction IDs, and notes about what was said.
• Warn others. Share this alert with family members, friends, neighbors, and anyone who may be vulnerable to high-pressure scams.

Verify the Claim

If you receive one of these calls, contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Office directly at (660) 947-3200 or (660) 947-2515. Use these numbers to verify any claim involving a warrant, court matter, jury duty, traffic ticket, or bond.

Report the Scam

• Report the call to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at (660) 947-3200 or (660) 947-2515.
• Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Because the scam involves telephone technology and cryptocurrency, you may also file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Review current scam alerts and consumer guidance from the Missouri Attorney General's Office.
• If you sent money or disclosed financial information, contact your bank, card issuer, payment provider, or cryptocurrency company immediately and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or flagged.
• If you believe you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Remember: A threat of immediate arrest combined with a demand for payment through a Bitcoin kiosk is a major warning sign. Hang up, verify, and report.