Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents to be on alert for a scam involving emails that appear to come from the Sheriff’s Office.

According to the sheriff, some individuals have reported receiving suspicious emails claiming to be from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office. These messages may include attachments or instructions to open a file.

Sheriff Schrader is urging residents not to open any attachments or click on any files included in these emails.

“If you receive an email from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office that has an attachment or says to open a file, do not open it,” the sheriff said.

Officials say opening these types of files could potentially expose personal information or allow harmful software onto your device.

Residents who receive a suspicious email are encouraged to delete it immediately and avoid interacting with the message.

Authorities continue to remind the public to stay cautious with unsolicited emails and to verify any suspicious communication before taking action.