Cole County sheriff reports phone scam

A Cole County sheriff's deputy is shown with his radio microphone and body cam pinned to his chest.
A Cole County sheriff's deputy is shown with his radio microphone and body cam pinned to his chest.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department has received complaints recently about a scam in which suspects call residents and identify themselves as deputies, Sheriff John Wheeler said Monday.

The suspects specifically identify themselves as "Sergeant Jenkins," Wheeler said in a news release.

The suspects ask residents to call 564-4770. When someone calls that number, it goes to voicemail. The suspect then calls the resident and says there is a warrant for their arrest, trying to get the resident to give them personal information such as date of birth, type of vehicle they drive, etc. They also tell the resident to pay for the warrant with money orders.

Wheeler said this is a scam - people should not pay the money nor give out personal information if they receive such a call.

"Remember, we will not call you to inform you of a warrant nor would we ask you to pay over the phone for a warrant," Wheeler said. "We show up and serve it."

Residents who may have been affected by this scam should call the Cole County Sheriff's Department at 573-634-9160.