Cottage Grove, OR – A Lane County resident lost $14,000 in a phone scam where fraudsters posed as sheriff’s deputies. The scam was reported to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scammer contacted a relative of the victim, claiming he was a sergeant with the department. The caller alleged the relative had missed court and was held in contempt. To “avoid arrest,” the scammer demanded $7,000 for two criminal charges.
The relative, unable to pay, asked the victim for help. Following the scammer’s instructions, the victim withdrew cash from savings and converted it into Bitcoin at a CoinFlip ATM. The transaction is considered untraceable, making the case difficult to resolve.
Officials warn such scams are common. Scammers often use spoofed caller IDs and official-sounding messages to appear legitimate. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office emphasized they never demand money via phone or email.
Victims of similar scams are urged to report incidents to the FBI at www.ic3.gov. Suspected scam calls should be reported to the Lane County Sheriff’s dispatch center at 541-682-4141.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram & like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS!
