Multiple US Counties Warn Residents of Widespread Law Enforcement Phone Scams

Multiple sheriff's offices across the United States are warning residents about a widespread phone scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money. These scammers falsely claim the recipient has missed court appearances, has outstanding warrants, or failed jury duty, then demand payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or cash transfers, sometimes even requesting deposits through bitcoin ATMs. Law enforcement agencies from Coles County, Illinois; Miami County, Kansas; Martin County, North Carolina; Washtenaw County, Michigan; and DeKalb County, Georgia all emphasize that they never call to demand money or ask for payments over the phone. Residents are urged to hang up immediately if they receive such calls and contact their local sheriff’s office directly to report the scam. Officials also caution against sharing personal information or transferring funds to unknown parties, highlighting that scammers often use real names, badge numbers, and official-sounding phone numbers to appear credible. These warnings aim to protect the public from increasingly sophisticated and daring impersonation scams.