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Cochise County sheriff warns of aggressive phone scams, new social‑media ‘dusting’ risk
Summary
Sheriff Mark Danos and host Carol Kappas warned residents about telephone scams that pressure people into paying and described a social‑media trend called 'dusting' that can cause fatal health effects. Sheriff urged residents to hang up, verify warrants with courts, and contact the sheriff's office before paying money.
Sheriff Mark Danos told listeners that telephone scams remain active in Cochise County and urged residents not to send money to callers who claim there are warrants or other urgent legal actions.
“If you don't recognize the number, just don't answer it and let them leave you a message,” Danos said. “But if you answer it ... we encourage people, not to pay any money. So someone just lost another $4,000.”
Danos described scammers using local‑looking phone numbers and aggressive pressure tactics intended to frighten people into paying. He said law enforcement will not call residents demanding payment to avoid arrest: “If you have a warrant, we're not calling you. We're not gonna, hey, you got a warrant. No, it doesn't work that way.”
He advised that anyone who thinks they may have a warrant should contact the courts directly to resolve it and said the sheriff's office will help verify warrant information if asked.
The program also addressed dangerous social‑media behaviors. Danos described a practice called “dusting,” in which people inhale products such as keyboard‑cleaning sprays to chase a high; he said the sheriff's office has seen at least one fatality tied to the trend and urged parents to monitor phones and social media.
Another viral trend the hosts discussed — called “Andy’s Coming” — was described as a harmless stunt that prompts people to lie still, but Danos and the hosts contrasted that with the more dangerous trends that can cause medical emergencies.
The sheriff recommended that residents verify any unusual demands for money through official channels, call the sheriff's office with concerns, and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers.
