AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that it has taken several reports and calls from concerned citizens about someone calling portraying to be Lieutenants or Deputies from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.

ACSO says the calls are coming from a restricted phone number. If you don’t answer the call, the caller is leaving a voicemail. The caller is telling the citizen’s that they have a civil summons, Jury Duty summons, or may have a legal matter to discuss.

The numbers the scammers are using are 540-445-0998 or 540-445-0992, 540-445-0994. ACSO says these phone numbers are not associated with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and to not call the number back, no matter what the voicemail says. The caller will most likely ask you to purchase some type of gift card, or bitcoin in exchange for being arrested on a warrant. Do NOT engage with the person, as you may fall victim to a scam.

Officials say that no matter how aggressive the caller appears to sound, DO NOT BUY ANY GIFT CARDS or SEND ANY MONEY to this person. Also, never give out any of your personal information to anyone, where you did not initiate the call. No one from the from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office will ever ask you to buy gift cards or ask for any money in exchange for being arrested.

ACSO asks that you educate your family on this type of scam and to make sure that your parents and grandparents are aware of this scam and other scams that are similar.

If you are ever in doubt whether it is a scam or not, call the Sheriff’s Office at 540-245-5333.