Lauderdale County, MS Sheriff's Office Warns Residents of Local Scam

Lauderdale County, MS — The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a recent scam that has already cost at least one local citizen $6,000.

According to authorities, two individuals posing as deputies contacted the victim using a phone number that appeared to be from the sheriff’s office. This tactic, known as “spoofing,” allows scammers to disguise their number to make it look legitimate.

The victim was told they had missed federal jury duty and were required to pay a fine to avoid arrest. The scammers then instructed the individual to go to a local business and purchase Bitcoin as payment.

Officials stress that no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever contact individuals by phone, text, or email demanding payment via credit card, Cash App, or cryptocurrency.

Residents are urged to remain cautious and share this warning with family and friends to help prevent further incident