Wheaton, IL – The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a growing number of phone scams involving callers posing as law enforcement officers. Officials said the scammers are using real deputy names, badge numbers, and even spoofed caller IDs to convince victims the calls are legitimate.
According to Sheriff James Mendrick and Undersheriff Eddie Moore, the scammers falsely claim the victim is under investigation or has an outstanding warrant. They allegedly threaten arrest unless an immediate payment is made, often demanding money through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards — methods that are nearly impossible to trace or recover.
To make their calls sound authentic, scammers may show official-looking phone numbers, use fraudulent documents resembling arrest warrants, or reference actual DuPage County Sheriff’s Office employees.
Residents are urged to protect themselves by hanging up immediately if they receive such a call, never sending money or sharing personal information over the phone, and verifying any sheriff-related call by dialing the official non-emergency number at 630-407-2400. Scam attempts can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
Officials emphasized that the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office will never call to demand payment or threaten arrest.
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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