Peoria, IL – The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to a phone scam circulating this week, where callers impersonate law enforcement and falsely claim individuals face arrest unless they pay immediately.
According to a warning posted Wednesday on the department’s official Facebook page, scammers are leaving voicemails about “Urgent Legal Matters” or “Missing Jury Duty.” Authorities stress these calls are not from their office and that they never request personal information or payment over the phone.
“If you receive a suspicious call or voicemail claiming to be from our staff, do not return the call,” the department stated. “Instead, contact us directly at 309-697-8515 to verify any legitimate concerns.”
Officials emphasize that the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office will never threaten legal action or demand payments via phone or voicemail. The warning comes with a reminder for residents to stay alert, avoid sharing sensitive information, and report suspicious activity directly to law enforcement.
The department is urging residents to share the alert with friends and family to help prevent potential scams and keep the community safe.
For more information or to report a scam, call the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office directly.
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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