Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is issuing a stark warning to residents about a prevalent scam involving fraudulent calls and demands for Bitcoin payments. According to the Sheriff’s office, several recent cases have surfaced where scammers impersonating law enforcement officers contact victims and coerce them into sending money via Bitcoin ATMs. The scam typically involves the caller identifying themselves as a member of law enforcement and creating a sense of urgency to pressure the victim into immediate action. “Please be cautious of anyone who tries to get you to send money via Bitcoin,” Sheriff Schrader urged. “We have had several cases where the caller identifies as Law Enforcement and has the victim go to a store and send money via a bitcoin atm.” Sheriff Schrader emphasized the importance of verifying any suspicious calls claiming to be from law enforcement. “If you have any questions on a call you receive, please call your local law enforcement agency.”  Sheriff Schrader reiterated that legitimate law enforcement agencies will *never* request payments via Bitcoin or solicit payments over the phone. The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected scam attempts to their local law enforcement agency immediately. By raising awareness and working together, the community can help prevent these scams and protect themselves from financial loss.