Scambuster Corner – SCAM ALERT July 2024 #2024-07
There have been an enormous amount of these law enforcement imposters
calling our citizens saying they have a warrant that they need to pay for via
wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, cash apps, money cards or bitcoin. It could be
for missing jury duty, appearing at a grand jury, or as a witness. They also
say you will be arrested on the spot if you go into the Sheriff’s office to
check on whether you have a warrant or not. PLEASE pass along to all your
family, friends, network, everyone you know, that this is a SCAM! LE will
never call you and ask you to pay via phone.
Scams
PRETRIAL SERVICES SCAM
Pretrial clients upon being released from jail, have received calls from
someone impersonating a deputy from the sheriff’s office. They tell the
client they are required to pay $850 for a GPS monitor and send them to a
kiosk to pay. The scammer then gives the client a phone number for Pretrial
services to pick up their GPS.
PPP LOAN SCAM (Payroll Protection Program)
This is a twist on the LE impersonation scam – it involves the PPP loan
program during the Covid era. Our citizens are getting calls from a man
with the PPP loan number, etc. and telling the person they have a warrant
from non-payment and they must pay cash – they direct the citizen to stay
on the phone, go to their bank and get $4,000 in cash, and meet at a “bond
location” which turns out to be a gas station.
PRETRIAL SERVICES SCAM
Pretrial clients upon being released from jail, have received calls from
someone impersonating a deputy from the sheriff’s office. They tell the
client they are required to pay $850 for a GPS monitor and send them to a
kiosk to pay. The scammer then gives the client a phone number for Pretrial
services to pick up their GPS.
Please let your friends and senior friends know of these scammers.
https://www.larimer.org/sheriff/services/information/frauds-scams
Barbara EJ Bennett
Chief Scambuster
Larimer County Sheriff’s Office
970-498-5146