Sheriff Encourages Awareness Against Current Scams

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported a new wave of text scams that impersonate the Transportation Cabinet’s driver licensing offices and Office of Highway Safety. If you receive one of these texts, do NOT click on the link!
It was not sent by KYTC, as we do not collect traffic ticket fees. If you’ve provided any personal information, contact your bank immediately. Sheriff Isaacs urges the public to remain vigilant against scammers, and know that no member of local or state government would reach out via text regarding any matters.
Ways to report this scam if received:
- www.ic3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint)
- www.reportfraud.ftc.gov (FTC)
- www.ag.ky.gov/scams (Kentucky Attorney General)
AI Voice Cloning Scams
In the last fiscal court meeting, Sheriff Isaacs and Jailer Brian Gabbard also brought to everyone’s attention a scam that uses AI Voice Cloning to con the victims into paying over the phone. Jailer Gabbard recalled an instance in which a family member showed up at the detention center under the impression that they had paid bail to get an inmate released. The family member said they had talked with the incarcerated inmate, but this never occurred.
AI voice-cloning scams in Kentucky use, or threaten to use, synthetic audio to impersonate relatives in fake emergencies (kidnapping, arrests, accidents) to steal money via wire transfer or cryptocurrency. Scammers often use only a few seconds of voice audio taken from social media to create a convincing clone, creating panic and demanding immediate payment.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Set a Family Code Word: Establish a secure phrase to verify authenticity during emergencies.
- Verify Independently: Hang up and call your relative directly using their known phone number, or check with other family members.
- Slow Down: Scammers create a sense of urgency to prevent rational thinking.
- Do Not Wire Money: Be suspicious of requests for untraceable funds, such as gift cards or crypto.
Actions if Targeted:
Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Contact local law enforcement immediately.