CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation Wednesday after a Cross Lanes woman provided a man identifying themselves as a police officer with $1,250 worth of pre-paid credit cards.
The woman told authorities she called the man, identifying himself as Lieutenant Jackson, after he had previously tried to reach her. According to the woman, he said she had missed jury duty and needed to bring money to the federal courthouse within an hour to avoid arrest.
He directed her to purchase pre-paid credit cards and to give him the numbers. He claimed the balance did not transfer, so she purchased more cards.
The man told her to wait in front of the federal courthouse in Charleston. She waited for more than an hour before contacting the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
“The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office will never demand payment over the telephone. All bonds, fines, and taxes may be paid in person at the Kanawha County Courthouse. If you opt to pay taxes over the phone dial numbers from trusted sources,” the sheriff’s office said in a press office.