It’s a most unusual prank – one that has Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless concerned and certainly not laughing.

Lawless said early Wednesday several families were awakened by a telephone call during which the caller falsely claimed to be a representative of the sheriff’s office.

The caller said the sheriff’s office was holding a certain person in jail and that someone needed to come to the jail and pick them up.

“The caller was claiming to be a deputy in some of the calls,” Lawless said. “And in one call they claimed to be the sheriff.”

Lawless said one person did come to the jail at 4:30 in the morning to find he had been pranked.

Lawless urged anyone who has gotten such a call to contact his office and verify the validity of the call.

He said those with the caller ID feature on their telephone service should check to see what phone number is displayed when such a call is made.

Lawless said anyone with information about who made the prank calls should contact his office as well.

The sheriff’s office number is (740) 532-3525.