Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office warns residents about payment scams

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) - The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about scams that demand payment. The office said criminals are using phone calls, text messages, emails and social media to get people to send money or share personal information.How the scams workThe sheriff’s office said scammers often pose as government agencies, law enforcement officers, financial institutions or well-known businesses. They may tell a person they owe money, have an outstanding warrant, need to fix a bank account problem or have won a prize.The office said scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting right away to avoid consequences.Warning signsThe sheriff’s office said one warning sign is when someone insists on a specific payment method. The office urged residents to be cautious when asked to pay by:Bank transferWire transferCryptocurrencyPayment appGift cardThe office said legitimate law enforcement agencies will never demand payment over the phone to av