The Warren County Sheriff’s Department received over 250 calls from people in 22 different states on Aug. 16. All of them had been contacted by someone claiming affiliation with the sheriff’s department and asking for money.Sheriff Kevin Harrison said it’s all a scam, but there’s little local law enforcement can do about it.The unknown person or group running the scam identifies themselves as a deputy or attorney, and tells the victim that a family member has been incarcerated or involved in an car accident in Warren County. The scammers then try to convince victims to send money to “help.”“Never would the Warren County Sheriff’s Department conduct business in this manner,” Harrison said. “Who knows how or why they selected us as the agency (to impersonate).”The scammers direct victims to transfer money through a money order or other electronic means that can be retrieved from essentially anywhere, Harrison said. Tracking those transfers is frustratingly difficult, something the sheriff said is beyond the department’s local capability.In short, once the victim transfers money, it’s gone.Some local residents have been targeted so far, but Harrison said most of the targets have been out of state.The sheriff said that unfortunately, the best defense against these kinds of scams is to be skeptical and not allow yourself to become a victim.“When you put (a check) in the mail, or you electronically wire it, the chances are probable that you’re being scammed, and that your money is not going to be used for anything connected to what your intentions were,” he said.Letter targets firefighter supportersHarrison also warned county residents against a letter being distributed in the Marthasville area, claiming to benefit the local volunteer fire department.The letter starts off claiming to be a recruitment tool for “local volunteer fire departments in the Marthasville area.”It then uses flattering language to ask anyone too busy to volunteer to send money instead to support the recruitment effort.Three major problems: The return address for donations is a P.O. box in Topeka, Kan.; the letter doesn’t claim any of the money will go to Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department; and Assistant Fire Chief Sean Johnson said the department has never had any contact with the organization that is asking for money.Johnson said firefighters contacted the sheriff’s department when they found out about the letters. He said the fire department would never use an outside company to contact taxpayers.“If we’re going to advertise or do any kind of fundraising, we’ll be doing it through our own social media or our own mailer,” Johnson said.He added that anyone with questions about the fire department can call him at 636-667-8920.Sheriff Harrison said he spoke to a representative of the organization that sent the letters, and that it is a legally registered entity. He said no criminal behavior is apparent in this case, but that the organization’s business practices are highly questionable.“I think they’re not ethical. They did not communicate with our fire department. They’re misleading the public,” Harrison said.He advised that anyone who wants to volunteer or contribute to a local emergency service should contact that agency directly.Warren County Sheriff's Department