The Russells Point Police Department is alerting the community to a recent phone scam that targeted a local business on Sunday.
Around 3:07 p.m., officers responded to a reported suspicious incident at the Subway restaurant located at 204 Lincoln Boulevard.
Upon arrival, officers learned that an unknown caller had contacted the business while falsely identifying himself as an Ohio law enforcement officer using the name “Lt. J.H.”
The caller claimed the business had deposited fraudulent currency and instructed staff to withdraw money from the register and safe to “repay” the alleged amount.
The caller then directed the individual to travel to several nearby stores and complete transactions using barcodes sent via text message.
These transactions ultimately sent money to multiple gift cards.
The scam was interrupted after the business owner recognized the suspicious activity and contacted staff to stop further transactions.
No threats were made to the business or public during the incident.
Attempts to contact the phone number were unsuccessful, and representatives from the Vanilla Gift Card company confirmed such transactions are anonymous and cannot be traced to a specific cardholder.
Warning to the Public
These scams continue to target businesses and individuals by impersonating law enforcement officers or corporate personnel.
The Russells Point Police Department urges community members to remain cautious and to remember:
- Legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment, gift cards, or financial transactions over the phone.
- Verify suspicious calls by directly contacting your corporate office or the police department.
- Do not provide personal information or follow financial instructions from unsolicited callers.
- Report any suspected scam immediately.
Chief Freyhof reminds the community: “Scammers rely on urgency and fear. When something doesn’t feel right, pause, verify, and call us. We can help confirm whether a call is legitimate.”
