Residents in Yavapai County are being targeted by a persistent scam, one that masquerades as the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO), demanding payment or threatening jail time for alleged outstanding fines or court obligations. The YCSO is raising awareness about this fraudulent scheme that has been underway for months, with a noted increase in recent weeks, leading to significant financial losses for victims.
Scammers have resorted to "spoofing" caller ID systems to appear as though the call comes directly from the YCSO. According to the YCSO, these impostors may even provide the name of actual personnel, claiming you'll be arrested for warrants out for your arrest, and insisting on payment through cryptocurrency at Bitcoin ATMs or Coinstar machines. Despite the appearance of legitimacy, the YCSO stresses that they, nor any other law enforcement agency, will ever call individuals to demand payment or threaten arrest.
For those who may receive a voicemail from these scammers, the YCSO warns against calling back any number left on the message, as it only connects you to the scammers seeking to steal your money. Instead, residents are urged to hang up on any such call and immediately contact the YCSO directly. The YCSO has provided two numbers for reporting these scam attempts – (928) 771-3260 and (928) 771-3299, which reach their Fraud Unit.
