Ross County residents should be aware of phone calls appearing from 740-773-1186, a number associated with the Ross County Sheriff’s Office business line.
Callers have been reported asking for money to post the bond of a friend or relative. These calls are scams. Sheriff George W. Lavender Jr. has stated that his office will not ask for money.
The Ross County Sheriff’s Office does not contact people by phone to request payment for bonds, warrants, or related matters. Scammers often use caller ID spoofing to make the number appear legitimate.
If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Do not provide personal or financial information or send any money. Report the call to the sheriff’s office by dialing the official 24-hour dispatch number, 740-773-1185, which is listed on the department’s website.
Similar impersonation scams targeting the Ross County Sheriff’s Office have been reported in prior years, with the same consistent advice from the department: legitimate officials will not solicit money over the phone.
