SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Davis County Sheriff’s Office is warn residents of new wave of scam calls where scammers pose as local law enforcement officers.

Several community members said they have received threatening phone calls in recent days from scammers using the real names of Davis County deputies and lieutenants to appear legitimate.

“I actually received a personal phone call today that contained threatening language,” said Stephanie Dinsmore with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. “Even in my role in law enforcement, I always stop to think, ‘Oh my word, these people can get under your skin so quickly.'”

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Scammers typically claim victims have failed in their jury duty or have outstanding arrest warrants. Some calls even mention federal orders of silence. Officials say these tactics are aimed at creating panic and pushing people to make quick payments.

Unfortunately, some residents have already fallen victim to these schemes.

“If they ask you for Bitcoin, if they ask you to wire funds, no law enforcement agency in the country operates that way,” Dinsmore said.

The Sheriff’s Office advises anyone receiving suspicious calls to:

• Hang up immediately
• Call the Sheriff’s Office Front Desk directly to verify any claims
• Be wary of requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrencies

To combat these scams, the department has placed warning signs on cryptocurrency machines at local grocery stores to prevent residents from becoming victims.

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