Champaign, IL – The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents this week about an ongoing phone scam in which callers impersonate deputies and demand money for fake arrest warrants.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers have been contacting individuals and claiming they must pay fines or fees—sometimes even requesting cryptocurrency such as bitcoin—to avoid arrest. Officials stress this is a fraudulent scheme.
“The Sheriff’s Office will never call you to tell you there is a warrant for your arrest and ask for money,” the agency said in a statement. “We do our business in person.”
Deputies may contact residents as part of legitimate investigations, but they emphasized that no one from the office would ever solicit payment over the phone. The Sheriff’s Office also warned that scammers may use the real names of deputies to appear credible.
Officials urge anyone who receives a suspicious call to hang up immediately and verify the situation by contacting the Sheriff’s Office directly at 217-384-1204 during office hours or 217-333-8911 anytime. Residents should not call back the number provided by the scammer.
The Sheriff’s Office noted it is always safe to confirm the legitimacy of a call, adding, “We’d rather you call and verify than be scammed.”
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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