CHILLICOTHE, OH — An elaborate scam targeting a local restaurant manager resulted in a $400 loss at Tumbleweed Restaurant, located at 1150 N Bridge St, on Friday, May 16, 2025. Chillicothe police responded to the incident at 7:13 PM after the manager reported the fraudulent scheme.
According to Officer James Kight’s supplemental narrative, the manager received a call on the restaurant’s work phone at approximately 5:45 PM from a restricted number. The caller, a man with a deep voice, identified himself as “Captain Johnson” from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. He referenced the sheriff’s staff frequently dining at Tumbleweed, a detail the manager confirmed as accurate, which lent credibility to the caller’s claims. The man further described himself as a “tall bald deputy” known to visit the restaurant, a description intended to build trust.
The caller then falsely claimed that one of Tumbleweed’s employees was in custody at the jail with a bond set at $400. The manager, confirming the employee as a current staff member, received a text message on their personal phone from the number 417-676-1101—a “text-free” number with a Missouri area code—containing a barcode link to send the money. Believing the situation to be legitimate, the manager used personal funds to send $400 via the Walmart Money Center in Chillicothe, completing the transaction with the provided barcode.
Shortly after, the manager realized they had been scammed upon discovering the employee was not in custody. They reported the incident to the police, who documented the Walmart transaction receipts with photographs. The investigation suggests the caller may have intimate knowledge of Tumbleweed’s operations and staff, though the manager noted no recent disputes with disgruntled employees. They plan to speak with the affected employee to explore any potential leads on the caller’s identity.
The manager was referred to the Ohio Attorney General’s office with the report number for further assistance. As of now, there are no solid leads, and the case is considered closed unless new information emerges.
