Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader has issued an urgent warning to residents following reports of a sophisticated scam attempting to defraud individuals of thousands of dollars by falsely claiming they have missed federal court appearances.

According to Sheriff Schrader, his office received a call on Monday from a concerned resident who reported that three people known to them had recently been contacted by the same fraudulent scheme. The calls, originating from numbers including 943-678-5024, falsely claim individuals have “missing federal court” obligations and demand over $10,000 in fines.

Sheriff Schrader stressed that while some might dismiss such calls as obvious scams, the perpetrators are “very convincing.” He noted, “I know a lot of you think ‘who would do that?’ But, these low life thieves sound very convincing. They have convinced so many people to pay money.”

The Sheriff adamantly stated that no government agency, including law enforcement or the federal court system, would ever contact individuals by phone to solicit payments for fines or missed appearances in this manner.

“WE NOR ANY GOVT AGENCY WILL EVER CALL AND SOLICIT LIKE THIS,” Schrader emphasized in his public statement.

He urged residents to “hang up on them and call the Sheriff’s Office” immediately if they receive such a call.

Sheriff Schrader implored the community to share this critical warning with family members and friends, particularly the elderly or those who might be more susceptible to persuasive tactics. He reiterated that legitimate legal matters are handled through official written correspondence and proper legal channels, never through unsolicited phone calls demanding immediate payment.

For any questions or to report a suspicious call, residents are strongly encouraged to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office directly.