Phone Scam Involves People Impersonating Sheriffs

Sheriff. Image by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Multiple reports are surfacing of a national phone scam that has reached Hawaiʻi, in which individuals are impersonating sheriff deputies.

Officials with the state Department of Public Safety say they began receiving complaints in February and continue to receive calls and emails from the public reporting the scam.

Department officials say sheriff impersonators are calling random numbers and telling people that there is a warrant for their arrest because of failure to show up for jury duty or court.

The impersonator then tells the recipient that they will be arrested unless they pay a fee by phone to have the warrant cleared.

“We want to remind the public that sheriffs do not and will not call people about warrants having to do with jury duty or solicit the purchase of anything,” said DPS officials.

Anyone that receives a call matching this scam is asked to alert the Sheriff Division by calling (808) 586-1352.