Starke County Sheriff's Department warns of scam involving Sex Offender Registry

Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM

By Staff report

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office went to social media to warn of a recent phone scam involving an individual falsely identifying himself as Detective Charles Mackey with badge number 7625.

This impersonator is specifically targeting individuals on the Sex Offender Registry, claiming they are overdue for DNA testing and photo updates. The caller then instructs victims to go to Walmart and purchase prepaid cards to cover alleged fees.

The sheriff's notice states that that phone number 574-701-1513 is not a number associated with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, its detectives, or deputies.

Also, while the office does contact individuals on the Sex Offender Registry for routine updates, they will never demand payment over the phone, request prepaid cards, or call from any number other than 574-772-3771.

If you receive a suspicious or potentially fraudulent call, do not provide any personal or financial information. Hang up immediately and contact the Starke County Sheriff’s Office directly at 574-772-3771 to report the incident.

The Starke County Sheriff's Department also notes that they will never ask for credit card numbers or payment over the phone.