The Carver County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning about a new wave of phone scams that are targeting unsuspecting residents, masquerading as local law enforcement. Scammers have hit a new low, using sophisticated tactics to spoof law enforcement phone numbers, and give out actual names, and rank of officers to lend credibility to their ruse. This scam involves calls about non-existent warrants or unpaid fines, with the caller demanding payment under the threat of arrest.

It's a tricky con that's proven effective as the Sheriff's Office's own main number became a tool in the scammer's arsenal. The aim is clear: to create panic and make victims act without thinking. According to Carver County Sheriff's Office official Facebook page, the office main phone number was exploited on August 2. In what should now be a well-known fact, yet bears repeating—no legitimate law enforcement agency will call individuals about arrest warrants for missing jury duty, nor will they request money over the phone to settle the matter.

Members of the community are urged to be vigilant and to not fall prey to these heinous tactics. The Carver County Sheriff's Office renewed their plea to the public to hang up immediately on any such suspicious call, and to notify them directly of the attempt. "Please remember, law enforcement will never call you if you have an arrest warrant for missing jury duty, nor will they ask you to send money to clear a warrant," the Sheriff's Office communicated.

Being informed is the best defense against this newest incarnation of phone scams. The public is advised to always verify the legitimacy of any such claim by calling back via a publicly listed office number not the one that appeared in the caller ID during the suspicious call. Additionally, anyone who may have fallen victim to this scheme is encouraged to report their experiences to the authorities, to help apprehend the scammers and prevent further losses in the community.