Scammer Claiming To Be Sheriff’s Lieutenant; Wants Money To Avoid Arrest

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about a telephone scam. A man identifying himself as Lieutenant Richardson is contacting individuals saying a loved one is facing charges, and that he can get them off the hook for several hundred dollars, officials say.

The Sheriff's Office is cautioning against giving personal information over the phone, or arranging a meeting with anyone to exchange money to keep a family member from being arrested. If you receive a telephone call stating that a family member has been arrested and is in need of bail money, the sheriff's office says you can contact the Oneida County Correctional Facility and verify with corrections staff whether their family member is in custody or has been arrested.