Richlands Police Warn Residents of Law Enforcement Impersonation Scam

Bluefield Beckley Oak Hill, WV, September 28, 2026 —

The Richlands Police Department has issued a public warning regarding a sophisticated phone scam targeting local residents. The department reports that individuals are receiving calls from scammers who are falsely claiming to be law enforcement officers.

These fraudulent callers are allegedly requesting payments for supposed ankle-monitoring deposits. Victims are instructed to send funds using the mobile payment service Cash App. Authorities emphasize that this is a tactic used by criminals to defraud citizens.

In response to these reports, the Richlands Police Department is urging residents to exercise extreme caution. They strongly advise anyone who receives a call demanding money, particularly under the guise of law enforcement or for services such as ankle monitoring, to immediately hang up the phone.

The department also stresses the importance of never sharing personal or financial information with unsolicited callers. This includes bank account details, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive data that could be used for identity theft or financial fraud. The specific timeline of when these calls began or the number of victims affected was not provided.

Law enforcement agencies typically do not solicit payments for fines or deposits over the phone, especially through peer-to-peer payment apps like Cash App. Residents who believe they may have been targeted or have fallen victim to this scam are encouraged to report the incident to the Richlands Police Department or relevant consumer protection agencies. The amount of money scammers have successfully obtained through this scheme was not specified.

Story summarized from the original created by Brandy Lawrence on woay.com, see more information here.

Media gallery