The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about fraudulent telephone calls involving people impersonating law-enforcement personnel.
The callers claim to represent the sheriff’s office and tell residents they missed a court appearance. Victims are then instructed to pay money to prevent a warrant from being issued for their arrest.
The fraudulent calls may appear on caller identification as though they originated from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office. That technique is known as “spoofing” and allows scammers to disguise the telephone number they are actually using.
Residents should not provide callers with money, financial information or other personal details. Anyone receiving a questionable call should end the conversation and contact the sheriff’s office directly at 319-293-3426 to verify whether the situation is legitimate.
The sheriff’s office is also asking residents to share the warning with family members and others who may be vulnerable to telephone scams.