Scammers Pretending to Be the Sheriff How to Protect Yourself

An unexpected caller says they are from the sheriff’s office. You missed jury duty, they say, and must pay immediately to avoid arrest.

Stop and talk to someone you trust before doing anything. Threats, pressure, and demands for unusual payments are warning signs of a scam.

On September 17, 2026, the FBI renewed its warning about scammers impersonating law enforcement and government officials. Between January 2025 and July 2026, its Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints involving these scams, with reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion.

How the scam works

Someone calls, texts, or emails while pretending to be a sheriff, court official, IRS employee, or Social Security representative.

They may claim you missed jury duty, have an arrest warrant, or must pay to resolve a problem. They may know your name and address. Your caller ID may even display a real agency’s number because scammers can fake it.

Then comes the pressure: pay immediately, stay on the phone, and do not tell anyone.

Warning signs to remember

• Threats of arrest unless you pay right now.
• Demands for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash collected by a courier.
• Instructions to keep the conversation secret.
• Pressure to stay on the phone instead of checking with someone you trust.

What to do

1. Hang up. You do not have to stay on a frightening call.

2. Stop and talk to someone you trust before sending money or sharing information.

3. If you are worried the claim might be real, contact the agency using a number from its official website or a government letter you already have. Do not use the number supplied by the caller or shown on caller ID.

4. Do not send money in response to threats. Government officials will not demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment through a courier.

5. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or www.ic3.gov.

If you already paid or shared financial information, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. Explain what happened and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Report it to local law enforcement as well.

Pete’s Bottom Line

Sharon and I lost a significant amount of money to fraud. I started Scam-Proof Senior because I do not want others to feel the same way we felt.

If someone claiming to be a government official frightens you and demands immediate payment, hang up. Stop and talk to someone you trust before doing anything.

Please share this alert with a neighbor or family member. Scam protection is a family affair.

Pete Miller
Scam-Proof Senior
https://www.scamproofaz.com

Sources

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
Scammers Impersonating Law Enforcement and Government Officials in Fraud Schemes
September 17, 2026
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260917

Federal Trade Commission
How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam