Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin is warning residents about a scam using the name of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.

In the scam, residents are being called from a person purported to be a representative of the department. Franklin said names and duty titles aren’t consistent, but “Lieutenant Jones” has been used more than once.

The caller then proceeds to tell the person who answers the phone that they have an outstanding warrant, that they have missed a court appearance or failed to show for jury duty. The caller offers to “accept payment over the phone” to prevent the embarrassment of being arrested. These thieves then direct the victims to get a reloadable cash card from Walmart or Kroger so they can “pay the fines.”

Franklin wants to remind everyone that at no time will a representative of the sheriff’s office ask for payment over the phone to satisfy a warrant or court ordered lien.

“If a warrant is issued in a matter, it must be served. If a lien has been issued, that paperwork must be served to you,” Franklin said. “You pay any fines you owe directly to the persons at the clerk’s office in the courthouse. They are not collected over the phone by a deputy.”

Anyone who receives such a call is urged to simply hang up.