From SOSEN.ORG
The following is from one of our member families.
We had a scare yesterday. Someone called saying they were from (our) County Sheriff’s Department and that my loved one had moved without reporting it within three days. They wanted $2,000 dollars to cover his court fees then directed us to a specific street downtown which is where my loved one’s registration office is located. They indicated he would not be arrested, but would have to show up in court next Friday. They kept him on the phone and said he could not hang up while driving. He was very upset and drove to the bank. I went with him and tried to convince him it might be a scam. When we got to the bank I called the County Sheriff’s Department and they said it was NOT true. He then called his PO and was told it is a scam that is going on and he had heard it from others. Her loved one was finally convinced. He suffers from a TBI injury and PTSD from the military which made the panic worse.
Please, if you get any such call wanting you to respond with money hang up and call your registry office or police department and report it immediately. Any such call that you receive via phone or by mail please recognize it for what it is…a scam.
” a detective if had enough evidence would just come to arrest me not bargain with me. ”
Exactly, that is what a detective told me as well. They won’t call you, they would get an arrest warrant, come to your door and handcuff you. No bargaining.
The same thing has happened to me last October and I called the sheriff’s dept and they said it was a scam. The calls and threats kept on coming in and I had to change my phone number.,
Thank you for sharing this info regarding the scam. I hope your loved one is okay, I too have a loved one with PTSD, and I know how this can greatly affect them. He proudly served his country & now has to deal with this injustice, it’s a shame. Good luck to you
Similar situation happened to me and I let fear over ride my gut, common sense and facts. Hints it’s a scam:
1 call seems formal and urgent. It’s from “the Sheriffs office” not X county Sheriffs office just sheriffs office.
2 comes a couple of days AFTER registration and you know you registered. Must be “lost paperwork but warrant has bees issued”. Fact. Real sheriff does not call about a warrant. They come get you.
3. Stay on the phone because if you don’t you are a flight risk. I heard fake radio traffic in the background and when I resisted, I heard him radio the suspect was in non compliance
4. Don’t tell anyone, stay on the phone and don’t mute your call.
5. $ amount mentioned on clear this up but then it shifts to a money card.
6. They will ask how long to get to Sheriff’s office and ask you for numbers on the card. This is so they can clear the card before you get to the sheriffs office and find out it’s a scam. Once you give them the numbers your a victim.
A couple of more things, my original call was on a voicemail. Check the phone number. I did not and the number was spoofed from a businessman in my town. My call was to an official sounding phone tree where I had to select an option. The phone was answered and then I was passed on to the “captain”. He was slick. When I asked a few verifying questions like who was the sheriff, he became belligerent. The numbers were out and it was too late but I knew I was scammed. Trust your gut. St the first sign, just hang up. HANG UP. Don’t engage or cus them. They have your address and phone number.
If you fall prey, you can expect another scam. Mine came 2 days later frommy insurance carrier. They had assigned payment to their company. We had just paid our premium so the scammers were a day late and I HUNG UP. Folks, if it seems fishy, just hang up. Too much info out there on you to pick a fight with a ghost.
If you get a phone call like this, post the phone numbers. The phone numbers can trace the individual or agency back to it’s origin. It can be used as evidence in a police investigation (said with tongue in cheek) or can be used in civil litigation against the person or agency.
I had a scare similar to this years ago when I was still on probation at the beginning of the sentence. A private anonymous caller would call me telling me that he was a detective and I have to go to the police station for questioning. I asked them in relation to what ? They told me it was because of drugs. ( I have never done any drugs in my life ).
I ignored the caller, but they kept calling me back relentlessly to the point that I eventually had to change my number. I called my probation officer to let her know as well as the county police. It was not true from both parts. My advise is, before you do anything from any suspicious caller tells you to do, verify it with the sources you know to be legitimate. Both your probation officer and the county police in which you go to register. Try to stay calm and rationalize the situation and then contact probation and police.
It’s time we all band together and FIGHT these ridiculous laws that are serving NO purpose. Every other group has the nerve to march on the capital and on Washington. We just sit back and allow them to destroy our lives. Enough is enough.
a few months ago I received a phone call from a father who claimed that he had enough evidence to put me in prison on child porn. I was so confused because I never have nor will I ever look at child porn. Then a detective called from Brevard county saying that unless I start making weekly payments he would get a warrant out for my arrest. I checked the badge number he gave me and the names matched. I called the Sheriff’s department and they said it was a scam a detective if had enough evidence would just come to arrest me not bargain with me. This went on for a month and I had to change my phone number. It was a nightmare during this entire incident. But was assured no warrants were pending on me and since I changed my number I have never heard from them again. We are beginning to be targets for scams and our lives are put in jeopardy. Thank GOD I have a good report with the local law enforcement.