Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Issues January 2026 Scams Update

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------In our continuing efforts to educate and inform our citizens, and to prevent them from becoming victims of scams, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is releasing today our January 2026 Scams Update.  

The Sheriff’s Office has continued to be made aware of law enforcement scams.  In one scam, a Deputy spoke with a victim who stated that they received a call from a number that came up as No Caller ID.  After answering the call, the caller told the victim that they were from the Sheriff’s Office.  The caller stated that if the victim did not send money for an inmate’s bail, that they would be moved to general population.  The inmate was booked into jail on a General Sessions Bench Warrant. 

The victim told the caller that they wanted to come by the Detention Center and make payment there.  However, the caller told the victim that due to a COVID outbreak, they would not be allowed to do so.  The victim was transferred to another person who identified themselves as Lt. Davis, who advised the victim that it would be easier to make the payment for bail through CashApp. 

The victim received the link and suffered an approximate loss of $647.50.

Another law enforcement related scam that was reported involved a person receiving a call in regards to the cost for an ankle monitor and administrative fees for an inmate.  The caller used a name of a person who is not an employee of the Sheriff’s Office. 

In reference to the aforementioned law enforcement related scams, the Sheriff’s Office would like to remind you of the following:

· An inmate who is booked into the jail on a General Sessions Bench Warrant remains in jail until they have an appearance in court.  They would not be eligible for bail or bond in order to be released from jail. 

· The Oconee County Detention Center will not request payment in order to move someone from one section of the Detention Center to another.

· The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office or the Oconee County Detention Center will not contact someone in relation to the cost of an ankle monitor or any related administrative fees.  The Sheriff’s Office contracts with an outside company who provides ankle monitoring services and any costs or fees are paid to that outside company, not to the Sheriff’s Office or Detention Center.

· Legitimate businesses or law enforcement agencies will not ask for payment to be made through CashApp, or via bitcoin or a gift card.

· As stated previously, law enforcement will not request payment to either have a warrant recalled or a charge dropped. 

· In some law enforcement related scam calls, the scammers will use the names of current or former Sheriff’s Office employees in order to make the calls seem legitimate.  If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office, and you feel that it could be related to a scam, hang up the phone and contact the Sheriff’s Office at 864-638-4111 to verify that you are speaking to a legitimate law enforcement officer.

Back on Friday, January 9^th, the Sheriff’s Office issued a news release in reference to Investigators with the Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigations Bureau conducting an investigation into an Upstate business after allegations were made of Obtaining Goods under False Pretense. 

According to the release, a Deputy from the Uniform Patrol Bureau took a report from a citizen on January 5^th of this year in reference to seven online orders that were made to Thomas and Turner Boutique between October of 2024 and March of 2025. 

The citizen reported to the deputy that she e-mailed the store’s owner multiple times about the items that she ordered and did not receive.  The citizen was promised refunds, however, no money was refunded and the citizen never received the items that she ordered. 

The seven online orders made by the citizen totaled approximately $487.07.

The release went on to say that Investigators with the Fraud Unit also wanted to check to see if there were others in Oconee County who made orders to the same business and have yet to receive their orders or any refunds or store credits.

If you are a citizen in Oconee County, and made orders with Thomas and Turner Boutique, and have yet to receive items you have ordered or refunds or store credits, contact the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office if you would like to file a report with an Investigator with the Fraud Unit by calling 864-718-1052. 

Law enforcement agencies cannot begin an investigation until a report has been filed.