(COLDWATER) - Branch County Sheriff Fred Blakenship wants local residents to be aware of a recurring telephone scam.
Blakenship says callers are pretending to be with the Sheriff's Office and are demanding their intended victims make immediate payment to bond out a loved one from jail, or to prevent the victim's immediate arrest for non-compliance.
Blankenship says these high pressure calls and tactics are false and designed to exploit fear and panic.
Blakenship says his office will never call citizens to demand money, gift cards or Bitcoin for jail releases or legal compliance.
If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and call the Branch County Sheriff's Office to report the matter.