Residents in Waukesha County are being targeted by an elaborate phone scam that exploits the authority of the local sheriff's office. Perpetrators are reportedly impersonating law enforcement officers to solicit money from unsuspecting victims.
The criminals, according to a recent social media post by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, use spoofed phone numbers belonging to the sheriff's office. Falsely identifying themselves as deputies, they claim that the called individual has an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty. Driving to the courthouse, the victims are instructed to acquire gift cards or Bitcoin, and then divulge the details over the phone.
The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office has issued a scam alert, fervently clarifying that they "WILL NEVER call to request personal or financial information, credit card information, the purchase of gift cards, or payment through a kiosk to avoid immediate arrest for failure to appear in court or jury service." This statement shines a light on official policies, and it is paramount that the public remains wary of fraudulent activities that are unfortunately common.
Anyone who believes they’ve received a scam call is urged to decline any financial requests and immediately report the incident to authorities. The sheriff’s office advises residents to contact them directly at 262-548-7122 so they can take swift action to stop the scheme. Reporting the encounter to local law enforcement also helps officials track the scam’s reach and strengthen community-wide efforts to protect the public.
