News brief: Phone fraud involving sheriff’s office

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Someone is impersonating a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office employee, making phone calls and trying to scam people out of money.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen says several individuals have advised the sheriff’s office they’ve been contacted by a person purporting to be with the warrants division.

They’ve been told the call is about missing federal jury duty and the only way to avoid arrest is to come to the sheriff’s office after completing an initial procedure, according to Breen.

The “initial procedure” involves obtaining a “Green Dot” pre-paid card and providing the caller with security information so the caller can get the funds, according to Breen.

The sheriff’s office is actively investigating the source of the calls as originating from an Internet based application, according to Breen.

“We are asking the public to remain vigilant to the ever increasing amount of scams via telephone and internet,” Breen states in a news release. “If you are contacted by someone from a government agency and believe it seems suspicious, it is recommended you find independent contact information for the agency and contact them directly.”

The sheriff’s office also recommends the public not share any personal identifying information with anyone if they are not certain of their identity.

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2 Responses to “News brief: Phone fraud involving sheriff’s office”

  1. Peabody Slim says:

    Every cop that violates the Constitution is just pretending to be a Sheriff or Police officer to begin with. We’re heading into a 3rd World Country very quickly. The only good thing about 3rd World countries is there’s no Fluoride in the Water Supply. Do the research get the facts and protect your families health. Fluoride is the only prescription that is administered without a prescription.

  2. RobbieTheReloader says:

    I got all excited when i read the title about the sheriff’s department getting into an arguably more legitimate type of business and then my heart sank when i found iut that they weren’t actually involved at all. I know for a fact half of them would do really well in a phone environment. What with all the lying and manipulation….. you need to be a real cold fish in order to work in most boiler rooms. Any cop with a really good percentage and going from the miranda part of the script to thr miranda waiver part ( thats the part where they tell you you are obviously a decent type individual and that they can only help you if you essentially give up your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney in favor of helping them with either a flat out confession, evidence to hang you with, or turn snitch) would be excellent at pulling cards out of chooches and getting those baby boomers to empty their accounts!!
    If the sheriff’s department calls you and asks you to do anything except explain the reason that you had called for them in the first place, tell the deputy on the call that they couldn’t close a fucking window and to get a new job that doesn’t require a person that couldn’t sell their face to a photo booth and just laugh at them.