CHEROKEE COUNTY, Kan. — A phone scam circulating throughout the area has Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves alerting residents and reminding them to be cautious if they answer the phone from someone they don't know. The scam involves a thief posing as a deputy or other law enforcement officer and telling the victim that a family member or friend has been arrested and needs bail money immediately. The thief will aggressively suggest the person send money to a Venmo account or through another online pay service so the family member or friend can be released from custody.