Utah County, UT – Local deputies are warning residents about an ongoing phone scam in which callers impersonate members of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, falsely claiming residents have missed jury duty or have an outstanding warrant.
According to a Facebook post from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, scammers are introducing themselves as “Sergeant Baldwin” before demanding immediate payments through gift cards or cryptocurrency to clear alleged legal issues. Officials stress that these calls are fraudulent and should be ignored.
Authorities say the calls often sound urgent, with scammers threatening arrest if the victim fails to comply. “Trust me, that is not how we handle warrants,” said Sgt. Ormond in the department’s message. Deputies remind residents that law enforcement will never request payment or personal financial information over the phone.
Residents who receive such calls are advised to hang up immediately, record the phone number, and report the incident to Central Dispatch at (801) 798-5600. The sheriff’s office clarified that legitimate calls from their department will only concern active cases or incidents, not missed jury duty or fines.
Scam attempts involving impersonated law enforcement have been reported in several Utah counties in recent months, often escalating around tax season and holidays.
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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