Hilliard-area residents are among those being targeted by scammers impersonating Franklin County sheriff's deputies and demanding immediate payment over the phone.
Sheriff Dallas Baldwin's office posted a warning on X on July 28, saying it had received reports of callers posing as members of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The agency said it will never call residents and demand payment.
The scam works like this: a caller claims to be a police officer, sheriff's deputy, detective, or federal agent. They tell the victim they owe fines, missed jury duty, or violated a law, and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. Then they demand payment, often via gift cards.
Hilliard falls within Franklin County, placing local residents squarely in the scammers' crosshairs.
Scam reports rising
The problem is not new. The Sheriff's Office receives three to five calls per day from people who suspect someone tried to scam them, according to the agency's scams and safety page. Many don't file official reports, according to the agency. In 2024, the office logged 25 scam-related cases. Through November 2025, the most recent data available, that number had reached 40.
The agency listed several red flags to watch for:
- The caller demands payment via gift cards.
- They use high-pressure tactics and say payment must be made immediately or you'll be arrested.
- They spoof an agency's phone number and provide fake names, badge IDs, or case numbers.
The Hilliard Division of Police issued a similar warning in late 2020 about callers spoofing the city's phone number to impersonate officials and demand money. The latest alert shows the tactic persists.
What to do
Hang up. Do not pay.
The Sheriff's Office urges anyone who receives a suspicious call to report it to the FCSO Detective Bureau at (614) 525-3351, to local law enforcement, or to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The agency said it wants to hear from residents even if they didn't fall victim, so investigators can track the scammers' evolving tactics.
The FCSO non-emergency line is (614) 525-3333.
