Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office warns of phone scammer posing as sergeant

ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - The Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning about a scammer claiming to be a sergeant.

The office issued the warning Thursday in a social media post, saying it is aware of someone calling people and claiming to be Sergeant Douglas Hart with the sheriff’s office.

It added that the scammer told people that they failed to pay a fine and that a federal warrant was issued and the matter can be handled over the phone.

The office reports that it has no employee with the name of Douglas Hart and adds that “we would NEVER call and ask for money over the phone.”

The office additionally advises people not to give away personal information, including bank information, over the phone.