The Cook County Sheriff's Office is sounding the alarm about a phone scam that's been fleecing folks out of their hard-earned cash. According to CBS News Chicago, con artists have been posing as law enforcement and demanding $9,500 be deposited at a Cook County Jail kiosk, under the false claim that individuals have skipped out on a grand jury subpoena. The sheriff's office is clear: This is not how they or any other government body conducts their business.
In a more detailed revelation, the scammers appear to weave a complex narrative, featuring the chief judge of the federal court and specific instructions to bring the money to 2700 South California Avenue — the main doorstep to the Cook County Jail. As reported by WGN-TV, they sometimes even include personal information in their spiel; the goal is to make their ploy look legitimate.
The Sheriff's Office has noted that no real agency would ever require payments to be funneled through jail kiosks. It has also confirmed that the chief judge of the federal court isn't in the business of issuing these fake subpoenas. As a precaution, if you find yourself on the receiving end of such calls, officials advise taking down the caller's full name and badge number and verifying the authenticity of the call by directly contacting the department the scammer claims to represent.
For anyone caught in the crosshairs of this scam, or if there's suspicion you may have been targeted, authorities encourage you to get in touch with the Cook County Sheriff's Police at 708-865-4896 or 847-635-1188. It's crucial, the public realizes, these calls are fraudulent, and should be reported, to prevent further victimization.
