Tazewell County, IL – The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about an ongoing phone scam in which fraudsters are spoofing the agency’s phone number and falsely claiming to be sheriff’s deputies.
According to the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, callers are identifying themselves as members of a nonexistent “Warrants and Fines Division” and telling victims they missed jury duty, failed to appear in court, or have an outstanding warrant.
The scammers then demand immediate payment to avoid arrest, often instructing victims to send money through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other electronic payment methods.
The Sheriff’s Office stressed that these calls are fraudulent.
Officials reminded residents that the Sheriff’s Office does not have a Warrants and Fines Division and will never call demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest. Legitimate warrants are not resolved by making payments over the phone.
Authorities also emphasized that caller ID cannot always be trusted because criminals can spoof official phone numbers, making it appear as though a call is coming directly from the Sheriff’s Office.
If you receive one of these calls, officials recommend:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not provide personal or financial information.
- Do not send money or purchase gift cards.
- If you’re unsure whether a call is legitimate, contact the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office directly using its publicly listed non-emergency phone number.
The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to share the warning with family, friends, and especially older adults, who are frequently targeted by phone scams.
