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Sedgwick County sheriff's office warns residents about phone scam demanding payment
Summary
A Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office representative warned residents that scammers are impersonating the office, using spoofed numbers and real employee names to demand payments for alleged missed jury duty or outstanding warrants.
Brandon Stint, with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, warned Sedgwick County residents that scammers are impersonating the office to extort money by falsely claiming a missed jury duty or an outstanding warrant.
"They claim that you missed jury duty, you have a warrant for your arrest and the cops are on the way unless you pay them immediately," Stint said. He told listeners the callers use urgency and scare tactics, pressuring people to act before they have time to verify the claim.
Stint said scammers often "drop real employee names, including mine, and they spoof phone numbers to make the call look official." He added that callers sometimes include personal details such as an address, phone number and full name to appear convincing, and cautioned that this information is publicly available online.
"The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office will never ask you to pay anything. Not for a warrant, not to void an arrest, and not for civil paperwork," Stint said. He listed methods scammers have asked for and said the office will not accept: Bitcoin, Venmo, Cash App or gift cards.
Stint advised that if someone claims to be from the sheriff's office and demands money, residents should hang up and call the sheriff's office to verify. He provided two contact numbers: Judicial Services at (316) 660-3990 and Sheriff Administration at (316) 660-3900, stressing, "We don't collect payments over the phone. We don't make threats, and we'll never call and demand money."
