ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A man is in jail following a sting operation Saturday by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office to address a multi-state scam that allegedly defrauded a Belmont County resident out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in supposed fines.

Members of the alleged organization apparently pose as police and government officials.

A man identifying himself as Si Qi Yu of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested when reportedly coming to the local area to pick up money. Sheriff David Lucas said his detectives also determined the suspect is in the country illegally, so Lucas’s office is in contact with immigration authorities.

The suspect is being held at the jail in lieu of $36,000 bond.

Lucas reminds the public not to provide personal information to anyone over the phone who claims they have been hacked online. He also said government officials will not ask the public for money.