Receive a Call From "KCSO" Soliciting Money? It's NOT Us.
December 13th, 2019 12:37 pmWe want to make you aware of a current/recurring phone scam in which the scammers are using our organization's name to scam unsuspecting citizens out of money.
Residents throughout Michigan have reportedly received fraudulent phone calls from scammers claiming to be officers with the Kent County Sheriff's Office. The "officers" tell the caller that they have warrants for their arrest, have missed jury duty, or have a loved one who is locked up and needs bond money. The recipients of these calls are requested to load money onto prepaid cards through a website called "Reload."
Sadly, several victims have been scammed out of thousands of dollars.
In each of these calls the victim's caller ID shows the original incoming call is from (616)632-6100, which is our office's general information line. The suspect provides a callback number which is said to be a private line to the officer. The voicemail greeting for this number even indicates that it is a private line for the officer.
If you receive one of these calls, follow these tips!
1) Do NOT send money! We will never ask you for money over the phone. All fines, fees, and bonds are handled in person at the correctional facility, administrative offices, or courts. Whether in person or on the phone we will never ask for payment in the form of a re-loaded gift card.
2) Do NOT believe your caller ID! Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake or "spoof" their caller ID information. If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be from the KCSO, and they request money from you, hang up and contact your local police immediately.
Keep in mind, we do contact people via telephone for a wide variety of reasons; soliciting funds is not one of them. Share this message with your friends and family and encourage them to download the KCSO Mobile App to receive more important messages like these. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Forward these links to download the app!