The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has received several calls regarding a scam used to try and elicit money from members of the community.
The scammers will contact people via phone and claim to be Captain Mitchell or Lieutenant Brown with MCSO. Once they have introduced themselves, they explain that the victim has a warrant or unpaid court fine that must be paid immediately, or the person will be arrested.
Victims are asked to provide credit card information via phone. The scammers are very aggressive in trying to manipulate the victims into providing payment to resolve the warrant and/or fine.
It is important the community understands that MCSO does not conduct matter concerning warrant service or payment of fines via phone. MCSO does not have a Captain Mitchell or Lieutenant Brown currently employed with the agency, and anyone claiming to be an MCSO employee collecting money over the phone is a scammer.
In the event you are contacted by someone claiming to be a member of MCSO, who is collecting money over the phone, please note the following:
- Contact number of the person calling;
- Time and date of the call;
- Name used by the person calling.
Immediately after hanging up the phone, please call the police non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333 and ask to speak with a deputy sheriff regarding to file a report.
Remember, if contacted by someone claiming to be a member of MCSO and asking for money:
- DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY;
- Contact (503) 823-3333 to be put in contact with a deputy sheriff; and,
- Contact a family member or friend prior to sending money to anyone you do not know, phone scammers can be very convincing and it pays to get another opinion before sending any money.