SCAM ALERT – Callers Identify Themselves As Sheriff Attempting To Scam Local Residents | The Mighty 790 KFGO

Imagine that you are sitting at work and a call comes in saying that “There is a warrant for your arrest. You missed jury duty. This is a member of the Sheriff’s Department. Stay on the line and do what we want or you are going to jail.”

Scary. Even those who KNOW that there is no warrant in their name still get a pit in their stomach and wonder…well, what if?Tim Briggeman from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department joins It Takes Two with a warning and some tips in avoiding these professional scammers.

Cass County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Ongoing Scam

CASS COUNTY, N.D. (

March 4
^th
, 2018

) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office wishes to inform the public of a scam that is making the rounds through the F-M area. An individual is calling from

701-248-0408

and identifying themselves as “Detective Baker” or “Lieutenant Ward” from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant and citation division. The ruse advises that an active warrant exists and a request for immediate payment is necessary to quash the warrant. Our office has received multiple phone calls today questioning the legitimacy of the phone calls, please note this is a scam.

An important reminder for the public;

At times, Cass County personnel will place phone calls notifying individuals of a warrant in an attempt to set up a court appearance. However, under

no circumstances

is bond payment requested by sheriff’s office personnel over the telephone and/or in any form other than cash. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office will accept payment on a warrant; however, the bond must be paid in cash and must be done at the court house. If you have any questions regarding an active warrant and/or the validity of a phone call being notified of an active warrant, the sheriff’s office encourages you to call our warrant division at: (701) 241-1283.

1. You cannot pay a fine/fee with gift cards. This should be a huge red flag.

2. The scammers use a sense of immediacy to intimidate you. Tell them you will call back. Look up the number for dispatch (don’t use the information a potential scammer gives you). You can always hang up, even if it is a real law enforcement officer – they will understand you are just trying to be safe.

3. If something seems fishy, call a relative or law enforcement and ask questions BEFORE you act upon these requests. The odds of you saving thousands of dollars is better if you act on the side of caution.

4. If you are a victim, alert the authorities. The hard pill to swallow is the fact that a very very small percentage of people get justice – BUT your experience may help stop the next time and the next. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed, these are professionals who scam thousands of people a year. Providing as much information to law enforcement agencies as possible will help put a stop to future activities.

5. Lastly, DO NOT TRUST YOUR CALLER ID! Spoofing numbers is common and an easy way these scammers get you. They could be calling from across the globe, but it comes up as your local area code or even look exactly like the number for your local sheriff’s department. This is because they are using sophisticated technology. It’s a scam. Google the number or stop into an office. Don’t trust something that LOOKS right…

SCAM ALERT – Callers Identify Themselves As Sheriff Attempting To Scam Local Residents

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