COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has issued an alert regarding a new phone scam targeting residents.
Fraudulent callers are attempting to obtain personal and financial information by falsely claiming that victims’ Social Security numbers were discovered on the dark web.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
The alert details that callers are impersonating ranking officials from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, stating that a victim’s Social Security number was found on the dark web. These scammers then ask for personal and financial information, purportedly to “verify that your accounts are safe.”
The Sheriff’s Office explicitly states that its personnel will never contact individuals by phone to request such sensitive data. Residents are advised to immediately hang up if they receive a call matching the scam’s description.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
For any legitimate issues concerning a Social Security number, the Social Security Administration will notify individuals through mail or request an in-person visit to a local office.
The Sheriff’s Office also urges citizens to never provide personal or financial information to anyone who calls them unsolicited. If there are any concerns about account security, individuals should directly contact their financial institution.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
