FORT PAYNE – The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam that is currently circulating throughout the area.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are contacting individuals by telephone and falsely claiming that a family member has been arrested and is being held in jail. The callers then offer to help secure the person’s release or enrollment in a program.

In some cases, the caller places the victim on hold before transferring the call to another individual who falsely identifies himself as DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. The impersonator then requests money or payment in connection with the alleged situation.

Sheriff’s officials stress that these calls are fraudulent and are not associated with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it will never request money over the phone for any reason. Residents who receive such calls are urged not to provide personal information, financial details, or any form of payment.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call of this nature should simply hang up and avoid further communication with the caller.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to remain vigilant and to share the warning with family members and friends, particularly elderly relatives who are often targeted by scammers.

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