The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has recently received reports of a new telephone pitch that scammers are using to extort and defraud residents. The scam begins with an unsolicited phone call in which the caller identifies themselves as a law enforcement official and demands money. Citizens are told that they have outstanding arrest warrants for missing jury duty with specified bond amounts and must pay with a PayPal pre-paid card to avoid arrest.
The individuals making these telephone calls claim they are with the Warrants Division of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, making them seem credible. No law enforcement agency will contact a citizen via telephone and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest.
These criminals tend to target the more vulnerable population which often includes senior members of the community. Do not send any money if you receive a telephone call like this. Immediately hang up and contact your local law enforcement agency to report the attempted scam.
Information regarding current and past scams is available on the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office website at http://larimersheriff.org/site-page/frauds-and-scams.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or any crime is asked to call Larimer County Sheriff’s Office at 970-416-1985 or Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 where you will remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward.