SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The Davis County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a new wave of scam calls where fraudsters look to local law enforcement officers.

Several community members reported receiving 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 with threatening language,” said Stephanie Dinsmore of the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. “Even in my role in law enforcement, I still stop and think, ‘Oh my word, these people can get under your skin so quickly.’

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Scammers commonly claim that victims have missed jury duty or have outstanding warrants. Some calls even mention federal gag orders. According to officials, these tactics are designed to create panic and pressure people to make quick payments.

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

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

The sheriff’s office advises anyone receiving suspicious calls to:

• Close immediately
• Call the Sheriff’s Office front desk directly to verify any claim
• Be wary of requests to pay with 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 falling victim.

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