Ashtabula County sheriff warns of calls from scammer posing as 'Sergeant Douglas Hart'

The Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office is alerting residents to calls from someone who identifies himself as "Sergeant Douglas Hart" — a name the agency says belongs to no one on its staff.

In a social media post issued Thursday, the sheriff's office said the caller tells people they have an unpaid fine and that a federal warrant has been issued, then offers to resolve the matter by telephone.

The agency stated it would never contact anyone by phone to ask for money, and it confirmed that no employee goes by the name the caller is using.

Officials also urged the public to keep personal details, including banking information, out of phone conversations with unknown callers.

The post did not specify how many calls had been reported or whether anyone had lost money.