(Photo provided) The Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department is warning against a scam that involves scammers calling and claiming fines must be paid over the phone. Such fines are not handled by the department.

The Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about yet another scam occurring in the region – this time related to thieves claiming to be collecting fines and threatening to arrest people.

The department warned on its social media that it does call people about paying fines. The scammers claim to be with the sheriff’s department, and threaten to arrest people. The scammers also claim to have a warrant for their arrest, adding they can take a payment over the phone. However, the department does not take fine payments at all.

“This is not the way our sheriff’s office does business; we do not call for warrants and will never expect you to pay for fines over the phone,” the department notes.

“We do not collect money at our office for fines; that is all handled through the courts.

“Scammers are always trying to get you to give them money and have even changed the caller ID number to look like ours. Again – this is not our way of handling and if you have any questions, please hang up and call our office to check.”

In recent months, the department has warned residents about other scams occurring in the county. For example, back in January the department warned people about a scam sending people text messages about owing toll fees and threatening to suspend people’s license. The department warned people not to give out any personal information including financial account information as this was a scam.

Another scam involved thieves claiming to be with the county clerk’s office, saying a lien has been put on a person’s property. They also claim to be a process server. The clerk’s office warned that this also was a scam.

The Federal Trade Commission notes scammers can sound convincing on the phone while also putting pressure on people to act quickly. People should hang up and contact someone they trust about the incident, a family member or friend or a trusted institution about the incident. And never give out personal information such as one’s Social Security number, birth date, address or banking information. Just hang up the phone and block the number.