Registered Sex Offenders Targeted by Scam Artists
from an Idaho State Police news release
The Idaho Central Sex Offender Registry, administered by the Idaho State Police, has been made aware of several attempted scams targeting registered sex offenders in at least one Idaho county and six Florida counties.
The caller may provide a callback number with a voice mail message that sounds as if it belongs to the local law enforcement agency’s registration office. In another report, the caller says they are with the sheriff’s office and they have a warrant for being non-compliant. The scammer goes on to say that the only way to take care of it without being arrested is go to the store and get a money card and give them the card number over the phone.
Anyone receiving such a phone call should not follow the instruction and should immediately report it to the local sheriff’s office.
Living in Colorado and just got scammed. Message was left on my home phone machine. Urgent legal matter I was told. I knew in my heart it was a scam but these guys were good. Fake radio chatter in the background, fake radio calls on a BOLO for me. My registration was less than a week old and was with the PD not the Sheriffs office. They told me not to tell anyone I had a warrant and I needed to stay on the line with them in case an officer stopped me they could intervene so I would not get arrested. I became very suspicious and angry. I asked who the Sheriff was and he got defensive and I knew but it was too late. They kept me on the phone long enough to verify the cards and then the call dropped. I went to the PD and the officer told me it happens 50 times a day. Folks….if it does not seem right, just hang up. Call the PD or Sheriffs office and verify your registration. I am angry, humiliated and short a wad of money. I would gladly pay that again to get my hands on these scum bags. They are the preditors.