The Cortland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple scam phone calls being made to Cortland County residents, Sheriff Mark Helms and the Cortland Police Department have announced.
The scammers often pose as people of authority from agencies such as the IRS, Social Security or law enforcement, and request that victims submit payments by going to the store, buy gift cards, and then supply the gift card codes to the scammer to pay the fine or debt, Cortland police said.
“No law enforcement agency will call you and request you make a payment to them for bail, bond, fines, etc., by way of gift card or other electronic means,” Helms announced via social media.
If you get a call from people identifying themselves as a law enforcement official or any call that seems suspicious, and they request you pay them with a gift card for a service, call 607-753-3311 and speak with an officer before sending any payment information, he said.
