Sangamon County, IL – Local residents are being warned about a phone scam circulating in the Springfield area that falsely claims to be from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and threatens arrest if victims do not comply.
According to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, individuals have reported receiving calls that appear to come from the Sheriff’s Office phone number. During the calls, scammers claim the recipient must report to the jail to be fitted with an ankle monitor related to a pending court case. The caller allegedly threatens that a warrant will be issued if the individual does not comply.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it does not handle electronic monitoring and rarely contacts citizens by phone regarding court matters, warrants, jury duty, or orders of protection. Officials say these calls are fraudulent and designed to create fear and urgency.
Authorities also warned that scammers are using phone number spoofing, a technique that allows calls to appear as if they are coming from legitimate law enforcement numbers, even though they are not.
Residents who receive a suspicious call claiming to be from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office are advised to hang up immediately and contact the office directly to verify the call. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 217-753-6855.
Officials urge residents not to provide personal information, make payments, or follow instructions given during unsolicited calls. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by the scam is encouraged to report the incident.
The warning applies to residents across Sangamon County, including Springfield and surrounding Central Illinois communities.
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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