December 9, 2023 3:00 p.m. 

Officials with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said scammers are posing as officials from their agency in an effort to scam community members out of money.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell said deputies recently began receiving reports from people contacted by phone from individuals claiming to be a staff member from DCSO. O’Dell said some names they are providing are actual names of Sheriff’s Office staff members.

A DCSO release said the scammer will tell the intended victim they have missed a court appearance, owe fines or have a warrant for their arrest. O’Dell said the victim is often directed to immediately make payment or face consequences including arrest. He said these are tactics that are never utilized by legitimate law enforcement agencies.

The release said its critically important for the community to be aware of these tactics and to share them with friends and family members. That is especially true for those who may be vulnerable to falling victim to the scams, such as the elderly. O’Dell said residents should not focus too much on specific scam tactics as scammers often change their methods over time.

DCSO reminders include:

*Scammers can easily obtain new phone numbers and will change them often

*Scammers may use “spoof” programs to make caller ID show an agency’s actual phone number

*Scammers may use names of actual DCSO employees to make the call seem legitimate

*Scammers may obtain personal information about a victim online including their name, address, phone number and the names of others in the home

*Scammers may initially contact victims by mail, email, or through social media

Due to the technology used in the scam – and the fact that scammers can be located anywhere in the world – it is virtually impossible to track the scammers or get the money back.

O’Dell said, “If anyone has a question about a possible scam, they should call dispatch at (541) 440-4471 and ask to speak to a deputy”. O’Dell said, “The most important thing is to not send any money”.