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Phone Scammers Posing as Kent Co. Deputies

Posted at 2:54 PM, Jun 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-18 18:05:43-04
Kent County Sheriff patrol car logo

File photo

KENT COUNTY, Mich. (June 17, 2014) — The Kent County Sheriff’s Department sent out two warnings Wednesday that scammers have recently been posing as deputies over the phone.

According to the first release, scammers were attempting to con people out of money and were able to make the calls appear on caller ID as if they were coming from the sheriff’s department.  They also used a sheriff’s department employee’s name when calling.

The intended victim called the sheriff’s department to report the incident.

“This type of scam is similar to many others that are being done where scammers pose as an employee of the IRS or a utility company and even family members in need of cash,” the release says.  “Scammers convince people to purchase gift cards… and give them the security numbers off the back of the card.”

The second scam involves phone calls telling people that the sheriff’s department has a warrant for their arrest.  Recent calls involved telling intended victims that they had failed to report for jury duty.

The scammers allegedly told people that the fines associated with those crimes would be less if they paid over the phone.

The sheriff’s department says they never contact citizens and request credit card information over the phone.  If you believe someone is attempting to scam you over the phone, ask for their credentials, hang up and call the Kent County Dispatch Center at 616-336-3113.