WASHINGTON CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE WARNING OF SCAMMERS IMPERSONATING LAW ENFORCEMENT

  

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is cautioning the public about an increase in scammers pretending to act as law enforcement officials.

Per a release from Sheriff Otto Hanak, Washington County and several surrounding counties have had residents advising they have been contacted by people claiming to be active law enforcement officers and telling them they have active warrants for their arrest. 

According to Hanak, some of the scammers will use a spoof phone number to match local law enforcement numbers and have given actual names of active law enforcement employees in an attempt to scare or trick the victims into sending them money, usually through a prepaid source.

Hanak says the sheriff’s office will never call a wanted subject and ask for any type of payment. 

Anyone who receives a call from someone they believe to be fraudulently representing law enforcement is asked to hang up and contact their real law enforcement agency.