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The Columbia County Sheriff's Office in Hudson is alerting residents about a phone scam involving callers pretending to be from the U.S. Marshals Service. Recently, a resident received multiple calls where the scammer claimed that the victim's personal information was being misused in Texas. The victim was instructed to pay $9,000 in bitcoin to resolve the issue.
The sheriff's office emphasized that no legitimate federal agency would request payment through digital currency or gift cards. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, similar scams have been reported nationwide, where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials to extract money from victims. These scammers often use tactics like spoofing phone numbers and providing fake badge numbers to appear credible.
The public is advised to report such calls to their local FBI office and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI continue to monitor these scams and urge people to stay vigilant.