The Grant County Sheriff is warning people that someone is impersonating a deputy and demanding money over the phone.
Here’s how the swindle works:
--The caller ID on the victim’s phone may say the call is from the sheriff’s office, but the number had been “spoofed.”
--The scammer identifies themself by name as a member of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. They may also use the name of a real deputy in order to enhance the swindle’s believability.
--The scammer may tell the victim to “call me back on my direct line” and the scammer provides a different number.
--The scammer raises the victim’s anxiety level by claiming the victim had missed a court date, ignored a subpoena, or failed to pay a fine.
--The scammer uses high-pressure tactics and speaks with a sense of urgency.
--The fake deputy tells the victim that they could rectify the missed court appearance by paying a fine and all would be forgiven.
--The scammer asks for the fine to be paid in Green Dot Gift Cards. By using that method, the money is lost instantly, because the scammers have victims read the card numbers to them over the phone. By doing that, the scammer has the cash almost instantly.
The best way for someone to check with the sheriff’s office to see if there’s a problem is to call the sheriff’s office directly using the number listed on the internet, 509-754-2011.
The best advice: if you get a money demand call like that, just hang-up. No law enforcement officer requests money over the phone, especially via untraceable gift cards.
