Kent County, DE – The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents about an alarming rise in scam phone calls. Scammers are impersonating sheriff’s officers, making 25 to 30 calls within two hours.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fraudsters are falsely claiming that residents have missed jury duty or a court appearance. They then threaten that a warrant will be issued unless the victim pays a $2,000 fine. The calls often come from spoofed numbers, making them appear legitimate.
Authorities urge residents to hang up immediately if they receive such a call and not to engage with the scammers. Do not return the call, as it may lead to further attempts at fraud. Instead, report the scam to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at (302) 736-2161.
Additionally, residents are advised to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP or ftc.gov/complaint. Reporting can help protect others from falling victim to these increasingly frequent and sophisticated scams. The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the situation to curb these fraudulent activities.
