The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has once again received reports of a male claiming to work for the Sheriff’s Office who is demanding citizens pay fines immediately over the phone and threatens arrest if the potential victim does not follow his demands. Do NOT be fooled. This is a scam and neither the Sheriff’s Office nor any other law enforcement agency will demand you to go to a store to obtain a prepaid credit card or voucher to pay fines.
In this case, a male claiming to be “Deputy Walker” called from (509) 237-5534. The scammer had a southern accent and stated the victim had a warrant for failing to appear for jury duty and a second warrant for contempt of court. He demanded the victim go to Fred Meyer and get a money voucher in the amount of $989.00 to pay for the fines and avoid arrest.
The scammer was so brazen, he told the victim once a card was purchased, she needed to go to the credit/debit kiosk located inside the Public Safety Building (1100 W. Mallon). The scammer demanded a call back once she was at the kiosk and again threatened arrest if she didn’t follow his instructions.
Thankfully, in this case, the scammer did not claim another victim. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone law enforcement will NOT call and demand payment or personal information over the phone. These scammers continue to change their story but they all have the same theme: they want your hard earned money or your identity by obtaining your personal information.
*** Don’t be fooled, don’t be their next victim ***
Previous Press Release from February 18, 2016:
Phone Scammers “Claim” to be Deputies
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male claiming to work for the Sheriff’s Office as he threatened arrest and demanded money for warrants.
A call was placed to the scammer’s phone number, 509-237-2600, and a male answered and transferred the call to a male who identified himself as “Detective Mike Ellis”. When confronted the suspect transferred the call to another male who identified himself as “Lieutenant Gray”. The scammers continued to threaten arrest if the victim does not drive to Fred Meyer immediately and obtain a voucher for money owned due to a Failure to Appear or Contempt of Court warrant.
When a real Sheriff’s Lieutenant told the scammers he would meet them to pay them money, the scammers stated the warrants could not be paid in person and eventually hung-up.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office does not employ a “Mike Ellis” or a “Lieutenant Gray”.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department would like to remind everyone law enforcement will NEVER call and request or demand fines to be paid over the phone.
Scammers continue to prey upon citizens because they eventually find someone who believes their story and becomes a victim. Scammers continue to conduct phone scams where they identify themselves as employees of the IRS, Social Security Administration, a law enforcement agency, a court employee or some other business or government agency.
DO NOT be fooled into becoming a victim. DO NOT provide bank account information, credit or prepaid credit card information or any other personal information over the phone.