MONROE COUNTY, Mich — A phone scam is circulating in Monroe County, with a caller posing as law enforcement and threatening arrest.
Several residents reported receiving the fraudulent phone calls on Monday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The individual claimed to be a member of law enforcement and said that the resident had warrants for their arrest or had missed appearing in court.
The scammer threatened immediate arrest if not paid through various methods, including providing a bar code through text message for the person to send payment. The bar code may appear to be legitimate but is not.
Scammers also attempted to collect payment through gift cards or electronic cash transfers.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough offered the following things to keep in mind when receiving suspicious phone calls:
- Take time to stop and think. Scammers typically sound urgent to pressure you.
- Call someone you trust or the police for an opinion about the call.
- Do not send any money, gift cards or wire transfer payments. Government entities do not require or request payment over the phone.
No law enforcement agency will call citizens and demand money or threaten arrest for any reason, Goodnough said.
If a Monroe County resident encounters a similar situation, authorities ask that they call Monroe County Central Dispatch at 734-243-7070 to report the crime. Citizens outside of Monroe County should contact their local police department or sheriff's office.
Similar phone scams have circulated throughout southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio in which callers fraudulently identify themselves as local authorities - sometimes even college campus police - and say an individual or their loved one needs to pay for some form of legal trouble.
The scammers are able to spoof the phone numbers of law enforcement to add legitimacy to the phone call.
The scammers may ask for the "fine" or "bail money" to be paid in gift cards or digital currency and may tell the target not to tell anyone about the call.
Anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to this scam or any other scam is also encouraged to report the crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at this link.
MORE FROM WTOL 11 NEWS: