Linn County Sheriff’s Office Warning: Residents Falling For Elaborate Scam

There are so many scammers in this world. Many times you hear about a scam and think, 'how does anyone fall for that?' Other times, you totally get how it happens. There are a couple of parts of a scam in eastern Iowa that make it more believable to victims.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) has issued a warning to residents after they say several victims have fallen victim to an ongoing scam.

In a media release, the LCSO says, in this scam, the names of actual employees of the Linn County Sheriff's Office are being used to trick victims. Those victims are being told they've missed jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

In order to make the warrant disappear, if you will, the victim is told to make a payment. They're then sent to a cryptocurrency kiosk to deposit money and scan a QR code the scammer sent to them. Some of the victims have even been told to go to the Linn County Sheriff's Office after they've deposited the money. Scammers can be very convincing and that directive (to go to the LCSO) obviously makes it sound even more believable.

The LCSO reminds citizens, "A law enforcement agency will never request payment for a citation or warrant through these types of kiosks or ask you to purchase gift cards to keep you from going to jail. If you receive a call similar to this JUST HANG UP. Do not send money through a cryptocurrency kiosk or purchase gift cards in an attempt to take care of a warrant to keep from going to jail... When in doubt, hang up on the caller and contact your local law enforcement agency."