KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a warning to consumers regarding a recent rise in scam calls.
In this latest scam, callers are said to be impersonating law enforcement officers or agencies. They may claim the victim’s name is on a package of drugs and money, or there is a warrant out for their arrest.
The scammer tells the victim to wire money and/or purchase gift cards. They are then instructed to provide the gift card numbers over the phone to take care of the warrant.
In West Michigan, Nessel says the scam has been reported as near as Calhoun County.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller spoke with WKZO on the matter Wednesday Morning.
“It seems like we’re sadly having to talk about this so often,” Sheriff Fuller said. “There are scammers that are calling individuals in their house and saying you owe money for a warrant from many years ago, or you forgot to pay for something, and now there’s a warrant for your arrest.”
Fuller says these callers will often use real names of law enforcement employees relative to the area.
In fact, Fuller himself has been impersonated in scam calls before, as shown in a similar scam that was circulating last fall.
“My name has been used before where people have been told Sheriff Rick Fuller is coming to knock on your door, or they’ll pretend like I’m on the other line,” Fuller said. “They’ll say ‘stand by, I’m gonna put you on with Richard Fuller.’ Then, some other person gets on and says ‘you owe money, this is Sheriff Fuller.'”
Fuller is now reminding citizens that anyone who receives a call like this should regard it as a scam and hang up.
“Sheriff Fuller is never going to call you and say you owe money, and neither is anybody else from the Sheriff’s Office, or Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, or anything like that,” Fuller said.
He cited Attorney General Nessel’s report from earlier this week, and suggested residents should review the information to better avoid falling victim to a phone scam.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General provides a host of resources available online specifically related to robocalls.
To report fraud or if you have a general consumer complaint, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team online or by calling 877-765-8388.
Read the “Don’t Fall Victim to Gift Card Scams” consumer alert here.
To hear the full interview with Sheriff Fuller from Wednesday, click here.
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