DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an active phone scam after multiple people reported receiving calls from individuals falsely claiming to be law enforcement officers.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers have been impersonating DCSO personnel and using convincing information and law enforcement terminology in an effort to obtain money from victims.
On Sept. 7, deputies received a report from a person who said a caller identified himself as a DCSO lieutenant. The caller claimed the victim’s son, who had been arrested the previous night, could be released early from jail in exchange for a $1,000 payment.
Believing the call was legitimate, the victim sent $1,000 through Apple Pay to a phone number with a 208 area code.
Investigators believe scammers may be reviewing publicly available jail rosters to obtain information that makes their calls appear more credible.
A second victim reported a similar call on Sept. 8. The caller, who also claimed to be a DCSO lieutenant, told the woman she had an active warrant for failing to appear for jury duty.
Because the woman had recently been out of town, she believed the claim could be legitimate. She followed instructions to drive to the Sheriff’s Office and wait in the parking lot, where the caller then attempted to persuade her to send $9,000 to resolve the alleged warrant.
The woman, a registered nurse, told deputies the caller used official-sounding language and terminology that made the scheme appear credible.
The Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that law enforcement will not notify someone of an arrest warrant by phone. DCSO also does not request payments for fines, bail or fees over the phone or through services such as Apple Pay, iTunes, cryptocurrency, gift cards or other mobile payment applications.
Authorities said scammers frequently use urgent or threatening language to pressure potential victims into acting quickly. Anyone receiving a suspicious call claiming to be from law enforcement should hang up and contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to verify the information.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized by the scam can contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 541-693-6911.
