AUGLAIZECOUNTY.ORG

• Utility Scams: Scammers may pose as employees from companies like AEP Ohio or Dominion Energy, threatening to shut off your power or gas unless immediate payment is made via prepaid card. Note: Utility companies will never demand payment over the phone without prior written notice.
• The "Grandparent" Scam: A caller poses as a grandchild in an Ohio jail or hospital, asking for "bail money" to be sent via wire transfer or gift cards. Always hang up and call the family member directly on their known number.
• Jury Duty Scams: You receive a call claiming you missed jury duty in the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. The Court will never call you to demand money over the phone.

• The "Verification" Trap: Never give out your Social Security number or bank details to someone who calls you, even if your Caller ID says "Sheriff's Office." Technology allows scammers to "spoof" official numbers.
• Safe Shopping: When buying items on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, meet in a well-lit, public location. Many Ohio law enforcement agencies offer their parking lots as "Safe Exchange Zones."
• Secure Your Mail: Identity thieves often steal bank statements and credit card offers from unlocked mailboxes. Consider a locking mailbox or checking your mail promptly.

If you have been targeted or lost money to a scam, take these steps immediately:

• Contact Local Law Enforcement: File a report with the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office at (419) 739-6565.
• Ohio Attorney General: Report the scam to the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section at OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or call 1-800-282-0515.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): File a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help federal authorities track international scam rings.