(Cleveland, OH) - Northeast Ohioans are being warned of several scams in Northeast Ohio, involving people claiming to be federal marshals, court officers, and county sheriff’s deputies.
Federal officials have been investigating a case where scammers claimed to be U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, according to the media release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
On the calls, scammers have told people they’d been subpoenaed and missed a court date when no subpoena exists and the people were not named in any court case, the release said.
Those involved in the scam are said to be using a publicly available PDF to list a fictional court matter. In many of the calls, the scammers claimed to be 'Marshal Elliott' and has told victims that they need to purchase pre-paid debit cards to pay fake penalties.
Scammers often provide information like badge numbers and names of actual law enforcement officials and federal judges, to make themselves sound legitimate. They may also provide courthouse addresses and disguise their phone numbers to make it appear they’re calling from the court or a governmental agency.
If you get a similar call, officials within the Marshals Service advised that you call the clerk of court’s office of the U.S. District Court in your area to verify that there is a court order. If no court order exists, then it is most likely a scam.
The District Court in Cuyahoga County:
Carl B Stokes United States Court House
Address:801 W Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
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