The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to the public about fake social media profiles of Sheriff Leon Wilmot.
“We have been informed of fake profiles impersonating Sheriff Leon Wilmot on social media,” stated Tania Pavlak, Public Affairs Specialist with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office in an email. “These profiles have been friend requesting community members and sending direct messages to scam them out of money. Do not accept a friend request or click on any links sent from these fake profiles. The accounts have been reported.”
The Sheriff’s Office offers the following advice to avoid scammers and spot fake profiles:
- Profile and cover pictures were uploaded within the last 24 hours and will have *NEW FACEBOOK ACCOUNT*. These accounts will send a message shortly after accepting their friend request and inform you of a monetary earning opportunity, how to enter in a contest sweepstakes, or free cash programs to sign up for.
- When receiving new friend requests, review profiles to verify information, view descriptions, and timeline posts.
- Do not accept money requests, enter contest sweepstakes, or click any links sent from ‘new friends’, this is most likely a scam.