The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to the public regarding a spate of phone scams targeting county residents. The advisory, particularly emphasizing the plight of those recently released from jail, underlines that actual deputies will never solicit payment or personal information over the phone. In a statement obtained by content.govdelivery.com, the Sheriff's Office detailed the devious tactics these scammers are employing, leveraging real names from their ranks to lend credence to their schemes.
One prevalent scam involves imposters claiming to be deputies, informing victims of a supposed court case that will swiftly proceed to arrest should they fail to call back. The callback number funnels to a voicemail system, crafted to closely mimic an official Sheriff's Office line. The other rising scam attempts to quickly extort payment for an ankle monitor at a kiosk from individuals who have just been released from custody. They are being told to comply or face re-arrest—a classic scare tactic to press swindled folks into gathering their cash, or risk being thrown back behind bars.
Additional manipulative ploys as reported by the Sheriff's Office include claims of missed jury duty resulting in a warrant, threats of imminent arrest unless a payment is made, and the alarming assertion that hanging up the phone will lead to the caller's immediate arrest. The underlying message from authorities is crystal clear: the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office does not engage in such calls and will always refrain from demanding money over the phone. Residents who encounter such dubious calls should report them to law enforcement. This advisory also serves as a reminder to circulate this information among friends and family, who may find themselves in the crosshairs of these scammers.
For those concerned about warrants or needing assistance with court-related issues, the Hennepin County District Court offers a Warrant Helpline, available at (612) 540-6485, where inquiries can be resolved, and court hearings can be scheduled. The helpline is staffed on weekdays, but messages can be left anytime. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office continues to serve nearly 1.3 million people, under the leadership of Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt since January 2023, dedicating its efforts to preserve peace and engage positively with the community.
