Grays Harbor County, WA – A fraudulent email impersonating the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office is prompting a public warning after officials said it could expose recipients to identity theft and financial risk.
According to the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office, the scam email appears to come from rramirez@graysharbor.us and references a “confirmed statement.” Authorities said the message is not legitimate and was not sent by their office.
The email reportedly instructs recipients to open an attached PDF and enter a provided passcode to access it. Officials said this tactic is commonly used to bypass email security filters and gain access to sensitive personal or financial information.
The sheriff’s office is urging residents to avoid interacting with the message. Specifically, they advise:
- Do not open the attached PDF
- Do not enter passcodes or personal information
- Do not click any links
- Do not reply to the email
Officials said anyone who has already interacted with the email should closely monitor their accounts and consider reporting the incident to their email provider and financial institutions.
Authorities confirmed the incident remains under investigation and updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
The alert highlights a growing trend of targeted phishing attempts using official-looking email addresses to build trust and prompt quick action from recipients. Even cautious users can be affected if messages appear authentic.
For commuters, students, and workers who frequently check email on mobile devices, officials emphasize taking an extra moment to verify senders before opening attachments.
Anyone who receives the email is asked to delete it immediately and share the warning with others.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook and support local independent news.
Have a tip? Message us.
