Citizens in Salt Lake County are being targeted by a scam involving impersonators claiming to represent the sheriff's office, according to official reports. Scammers have been calling members of the community and falsely saying that payment is needed for the release of a loved one into jail programming or for court-ordered ankle monitoring. As obtained by the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, they alerted the public that, "The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of scammers posing as our employees, calling community members and falsely claiming that payment is required for a loved one to be released to jail programming or for court-ordered ankle monitoring."
A crucial point to understand is that the sheriff's office does not conduct financial transactions over the phone. Official processes related to fees for jail programming or ankle monitoring are handled directly with the inmate, not through unsolicited calls. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office has emphasized, "We will NEVER call and demand payment over the phone." In the event of receiving a suspicious call, individuals are encouraged to simply hang up and verify the information with official sources.
These deceptive calls not only demand money but often ask for personal and financial information, which can lead to identity theft and financial loss. Salt Lake County residents are being reminded to remain vigilant when handling such calls. The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office provided guidance on protecting oneself, "Don’t wire money, send cash, or use gift cards for payments. Don’t share personal or financial info. Don’t trust caller ID—it can be faked. Don’t click links in unexpected texts or emails."
