WAPAKONETA — Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office and the Auglaize County Prosecutor’s Office held a press conference Friday warning residents about the growing number of scams targeting people across the county.
Officials said Auglaize County residents lost more than $1 million to scammers in 2025 alone. Investigators say scam activity continues, with dozens of victims reporting financial losses.
“I think I tallied last year where we had roughly 40 victims in the county that lost money. So, it's happening constantly. It happens all across the country. We're just trying to be proactive in preventing it, as well as trying to help our victims,” says Michael Wiley.
The prosecutor’s office arraigned three people Friday in connection to two separate scam investigations that authorities say cost local victims more than $100,000 this year.
Investigators say a New York man was involved in a computer virus scam that took $108,000 from a victim. Authorities arrested him while he was allegedly attempting to collect $200,000 in gold bars.
Two women from Michigan are accused in a separate scam involving false claims of fraud on a victim’s PayPal account. Investigators say the victim initially paid $30,000 before the scammers demanded additional money. After speaking with family members, the victim contacted law enforcement, leading to the arrests.
Wiley said residents should be alert for warning signs commonly associated with scams, including urgent demands, secrecy and unusual payment requests.
“When these incidents occur, any sense of urgency demands secrecy. They don't want you to tell people what you're doing. Unusual payment methods, wire transfers, crypto, things of those nature just look out for and be suspicious of that,” adds Wiley.
Officials also encouraged scam victims to contact law enforcement immediately and not feel embarrassed about reporting the crime.
“It's the feeling you when you realize you've been taken for your life savings or your retirement money. How do I tell my family I've lost all my money, I'm going to have to move or I'm selling my house. You know that's that's that burden has got to be tremendous, but we need people to overcome that and come to contact law enforcement as soon as possible so we can at least make an effort to recover that,” says Benjamin Elder.
Officials say anyone who believes they may be dealing with a scam should contact law enforcement before sending money or providing personal information, especially if payment is being demanded.
