Payette County Sheriff Department Press Release
November 12, 2024
Payette, Idaho – The Payette County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to a phone scam in which fraudsters are spoofing the department’s official phone number and posing as police officers. These scammers falsely claim that the recipient has failed to appear for jury duty, or there is a warrant out for their arrest, and threatens to arrest unless an immediate payment is made.
Details of the Scam:
- Callers are using technology to mimic the Payette County Sheriff’s Office phone number, making the call appear legitimate.
- The scammers identify themselves as officers of the department and speak authoritatively to instill fear in the victim.
- Victims are told they have failed to appear for jury duty and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest.
- In addition to phone calls, fraudsters are creating fake arrest warrants and emailing them to potential victims. These emails demand payment to avoid arrest.
- The fake warrants claim to be from the United States District Court but are written as if they were from a State Court. The fillable fields on the form are noticeable, making these forms appear fake and not like legitimate warrants.
- Payments are typically demanded through non-traditional and untraceable means such as gift cards, prepaid debit cards, bitcoin, or wire transfers.
“The Payette County Sheriff’s Office does not call individuals to demand payment or threaten arrest over the phone. Jury duty notifications and related legal matters are handled through official court channels and will never involve requests for payment via phone. If a person misses jury duty, a sheriff’s deputy will serve them with a summons that requires them to appear before the court and explain why they missed jury duty. In that court hearing, the judge would decide to impose a fine or a jail sentence for missing jury duty,” said Sheriff Andy Creech
What to Do if You Receive a Scam Call or Email:
- Do not engage with or provide any personal or financial information to the caller or email sender.
- Hang up or delete the email immediately.
- Report the call or email to the Payette County Sheriff’s Office (208) 642-6006 ext. 0
- Consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.fcc.gov.
- Protect Yourself: The Payette County Sheriff’s Office urges residents to remain vigilantand share this information with friends and family, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to these scams.
If you have any questions or want to report suspicious activity, please call the Payette County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 642-6006 ext. 0.
