Salem, OR – Residents in Marion County are being warned about a surge in phone scams where callers impersonate sheriff’s deputies and demand money.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), scammers are spoofing caller ID to display “Marion County Sheriff’s Office” or even using real employees’ names to convince victims. The fraudulent calls often claim the recipient missed jury duty or has an active arrest warrant.
Authorities stress that missing jury duty does not result in an arrest warrant, and deputies would never call in advance to warn of a warrant. “We will never ask for payment through Bitcoin, gift cards, or any type of electronic transfer,” MCSO stated. Payments are also never collected at gas stations, kiosks, or parking lots.
Residents who receive suspicious calls are urged to hang up immediately and contact the sheriff’s office directly at the non-emergency line, 503-588-5032. Officials emphasize that if someone truly had a warrant, deputies would serve it in person rather than over the phone.
The sheriff’s office encourages community members to trust their instincts if something feels wrong. “You do not need to pay to avoid being arrested,” officials said.
Anyone targeted by these scams should report the incident to local law enforcement.
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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