SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE– Warrant Scam

This morning The Snohomish County Sheriff’s issued a press release warning citizens about scammers demanding money to avoid arrest due to a warrant.

Apparently, several residents reported receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office deputy who had a warrant for their arrest. The caller demanded that the victims pay a fee, over the phone, to have the warrant “lifted” or else the deputy would arrest them at their home.

Victims said that the Sheriff’s Office reception phone number (425-388-3393) showed up on their caller ID screen.

The press release quotes Sheriff Ty Trenary as follows:

“First of all, no county employee, including those in law enforcement, will call you to request payment over the phone for anything.  Anyone who does should be reported to the police immediately. Second, a Sheriff’s Office deputy would never call someone with a warrant to warn them that we were on our way to arrest them.”

The Sheriff’s Office notes that you can check to see if you have an outstanding warrant at:

District Court (misdemeanor): http://www.snoco.org/outstandingwarrants/

Or at

Superior Court (felony): http://www.snoco.org/app/scl/felony/

If you receive one of these scammer calls or believe that you are a victim of fraud, call 911.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

http://wa-snohomishcounty.civicplus.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=3907

Note: This is another instance of scammers calling our area since the first of the year. Scammers have claimed to be from courts with “jury warrants” (http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023788232_warrantscamxml.html), from the IRS, and from utilities.

Also this morning, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) warned its customers, via Twitter, about scammers claiming to be from utilities demanding immediate payment for supposed non-payment of utility bills. The scammers claimed that if payment is not paid, their utilities will be cut off. Residences and commercial business owners seem to continue to be prime targets.

PSE advises that customers would receive several communications from PSE before they would disrupt service.

If you receive one of these calls, or a call claiming to be from PSE seems suspicious, call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 before providing any personal information to anyone. Also, call 911 and report this to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.