The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is receiving reports of Lake County residents getting fraudulent telephone calls from individuals representing themselves to be from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.  During the scam, the fraudulent caller claims the recipient has active arrest warrants and is required to buy gift cards/pre-paid credit cards to avoid arrest.

The scammer even goes as far as mentioning the names of specific Sheriff’s Deputies employed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and specific Lake County Judges.

Residents should be aware the Lake County Sheriff’s Office does not solicit bond, fine, or monetary payments via telephone.  

If you feel you’ve received a fraudulent telephone call, contact the Sheriff’s Office or your local police department.

Safety Tips:
-If you don’t recognize the telephone number, don’t answer the call.
-Don’t give identifying or personal information to anyone over the telephone, unless you have confirmed who you are speaking with.
-If you are unsure of a caller’s identity, ask for their name and callback number, then hang-up and verify their information via the Internet or telephone book.
-If a caller is asking for someone who isn’t currently home, simply tell the caller they can’t come to the telephone (versus informing the caller you could be home alone).