We Will NOT Call & Demand Money for Warrants/Fines – EVER

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office continues to receive reports of scammers trying to fraudulently steal potential victims’ money or private personal information, which can be used to commit identity theft or fraud.   PLEASE share this information with everyone you know and care about.  
 
 It may seem obvious to some, but we continue to receive reports of people being victimized by these predatory SCAMMERS.    

Law Enforcement, Courts, or any other government agency will never call and demand payment using prepaid credit cards, cryptocurrency, or other payment options while threatening arrest.

Scammers will, so don’t be fooled.

Recently, we have received several reports of scammers impersonating Spokane County Sheriff’s Office employees.  If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office employee while demanding payment for any reason, hang up and call Crime Check at 509-456-2233 to report it.     

We have also been informed of similar scam calls involving other local, state, and federal agencies.  Again, these are all SCAMS!  

Example #1:  On October 9, 2024, a victim reported that a male, who identified himself as Lieutenant Davis, called her.  The scammer told the victim that a warrant had been issued for failure to appear for jury duty and contempt of court.  The victim spoke with three different males during the scam.  She also said the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Front Desk number appeared on her caller ID.  

NOTE: Criminals can easily spoof Caller IDs!  Do not trust your caller ID!    

The scammer instructed the victim (50s) to stay on the phone while going to withdraw money and then deposit it into a BitCoin ATM.  

NOTE: This is another sign of a scam.  If you have a fine or owe any government/court/other agency money, we/they will NEVER keep you on the phone, and we will NEVER use BitCoin or some other irregular payment method.  This will NEVER happen.  It is a SCAM!  

In this instance, the victim lost over $6,000 before realizing it was a SCAM.  

Example #2:  On October 17, 2024, a victim (20s) reported being contacted by a male who identified himself as Sheriff Wolf with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.  The impersonator told the victim that she had missed jury duty, now owed bonds, and had an active warrant for her arrest.  The criminal scammer continued, telling the victim she would be arrested if she did not pay $1,000.  He told her to go to a local store and pay using a prepaid credit card or wire transfer.

NOTE: This is another sign of a scam.  We will NEVER tell you to go to a local store to pay the fine, especially with a prepaid credit card or wire transfer.  This will NEVER happen, and it is a RED FLAG that this is a SCAM!     

In this instance, the victim lost $1,000 before realizing it was a SCAM.

To report these scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as most originate outside of the United States, please go to the FTC’s website at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?pid=A or call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.

This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "We Will NOT Call & Demand Money for Warrants/Fines - EVER" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7