Rice County Sheriff's Office has issued a scam alert to the local community, with reports of numerous incidents involving fraudulent calls by impostors posing as law enforcement officers. The con artists have been dialing up residents, falsely claiming they have missed jury duty and have a bench warrant issued against them. According to the Sheriff's Office, these scammers have attempted to intimidate individuals by staying on the line with them, even falsely identifying themselves as Capt. Paul LaRoche in recent cases.
The scheme, which has been a longstanding problem, often escalates to the impostor demanding payment from the victims to avoid arrest – a payment they suggest making via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or digital transfers. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that they "will never call, email or text to solicit funds or collect fines." Official processes for serving warrants and juror summonses were stressed by the authorities, highlighting that valid warrants are always served in person, not through fax or email, and juror notices are sent via traditional mail.
Additionally, the Sheriff Office's clarifies that no legitimate government body will contact individuals, urging immediate payment through unconventional means like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Any call demanding such actions under the duress of urgency or creating emergency should be identified as a probable scam. Victims of these phone scams are advised to hang up and report the incident to the proper authorities.
To further protect citizens, the Sheriff's Office advises never sharing personal information with unknown callers. If a call is received from someone claiming to be a deputy sheriff, it is recommended to verify this by calling the Sheriff's Office directly at 507-334-4391, the office provides guidance and support for those questioning the legitimacy of such unsolicited calls. More detailed information and updates on these scams can be found on the official Rice County website.
