MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is getting more reports of people falling victim to a phone scam where the caller is impersonating a deputy who says you will be arrested if you don't pay up.
A person is calling people in the county claiming to be Sergeant Matthew Lewis Jr. with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. There is no such person.
There are two versions, one the scammer tells the intended victim that they have a warrant for their arrest, the second they are told they missed jury duty and have a summons.
In both cases they are told if they don't take care of the citation over the phone they will come and arrested them.
He tells them they need to get a Green Dot prepaid cash card for $2,000 and then call (970) 433-4196 ext 3 and give them the number on the card.
When you call the number there is a voice recording saying,"You've reached the Mesa County Sheriff's Department..."
The scammer has a lot of details, like asking them to come down to the Sheriff's Office, judges' names, courtroom numbers, citation numbers, even background music to sound convincing, but it is all a FALSE.
THIS IS A SCAM.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office or the Mesa County court system would NEVER contact you by phone and demand money. Anyone who does have an actual warrant for their arrest would be contacted in person.
Anytime someone calls you and asked to be paid buy a prepaid card that is an indicator it is a SCAM.
Remember it's the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, NOT Department and the phone number is (970) 244-3500.
If ever you are contacted and not sure of the caller's legitimacy ask for their badge number or employee number and call the company or Sheriff's Office yourself. Not the phone number they give you, but the one you look up yourself. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office or any other company the scammer is posing as will be happy to verify the information for you.
