KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is alerting residents about a rise in scam phone calls in which fraudsters are impersonating law enforcement officials.
The scammers claim individuals have outstanding warrants and pressure them for personal information or money, according to the KCSO. They are also using tactics like altering caller IDs to make it appear as if the Sheriff's Office is contacting people.
KCSO emphasized that law enforcement will not call people regarding warrants or demand payment over the phone.
The Sheriff's Office advises residents to take the following precautions:
- Do not share personal information: Never provide personal or financial details over the phone to unknown callers.
- Verify the caller: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the organization directly using a verified phone number.
- Report suspicious calls: Report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. If you've lost money to a scam, contact the KCSO at (208) 446-1854.
The KCSO is urging the public to remain vigilant and share this information with others to help prevent further incidents.
