Scammers making some very convincing arguments as being the real-deal are increasingly plying their trade throughout east-central Wisconsin.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office is now reporting that their real phone number is being “spoofed” in order to appear as coming from their office, with scammers claiming to be Captain Todd Christie or Detective Sergeant Brian Hammen, both actual employees of the department. The intended victims are told they’re being contacted concerning “very important legal matters.”
A nearly identical scheme using the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s phone number and employee names has also been making the rounds here, with victims instructed to make payments in bitcoin so as to avoid arrest.
Universally, the real agencies never contact people by telephone to inform of warrants or other “very important legal matters”, and never, ever request payment by bitcoin or gift cards. People are being told to hang up on such calls, and to contact local law enforcement immediately if payments have been made.
Comments