JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of a new phone scam. The office says they have received several complaints from citizens reporting they’ve been called from a New York phone number of 917-201-7579.

(Credit: fordzolo)
(Credit: fordzolo)

If you don’t answer they leave a message asking you to call back and speak with them. If you do answer they say that you will go to federal jail if you do not do what they want. It is believed they are asking for money. The complainants say the callers are very forceful and threatening on the phone.

The sheriff’s office warns that this is a scam and says you should not give out any of your personal or financial information over the phone.

The office also asks those who have elderly family or friends to make them aware of this scam as it appears they are mostly targeting the elderly.