Prineville, Ore. – The Crook County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a fresh wave of scam calls from individuals posing as local law enforcement officers in an attempt to extort money.
According to the agency, dispatchers have received numerous reports of callers claiming to be “Sergeant” or “Lieutenant” from the Sheriff’s Office, pressuring victims to pay money under the guise of resolving legal matters. Officials stressed that the Sheriff’s Office will never call to demand payment for any reason related to legal issues.
“We will not call you and try to get money for ANY reason regarding legal matters,” the warning read.
The Sheriff’s Office is directing residents to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer alert on the growing trend of scammers impersonating local law enforcement, which provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding such schemes. That alert is available here: FTC Consumer Alert – Scammers Are Impersonating Local Law Enforcement.
This latest warning follows a similar scam alert the Sheriff’s Office issued in June. In that case, the Crook County Jail received multiple inquiries from people who had been told—falsely—that a loved one was in custody and needed bail money. The scammers instructed victims to purchase gift cards to secure the person’s release.
At the time, the Sheriff’s Office emphasized that it would never request gift cards for bail or any other reason. “If a person does need bailed out, you would have to come to the Crook County Jail and talk with a Corrections Deputy in person,” the agency stated.
Authorities are urging residents to remain cautious, verify suspicious calls directly with the Sheriff’s Office, and report scam attempts immediately.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject mater expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
