Scammer Uses Fictional Captain Of Deputies

NEBRASKA CITY – Otoe County Sheriff Colin Caudill reports a telephone scam using a fictional captain of deputies.

This is the voice of a telephone scammer.

Scam: “You have reached Cpt. Steve Glint with the Otoe County Sheriff’s Department, I am unavailable to take your call right now.”

Sheriff Caudill says his office does not have a captain and he does not want citizens to be victimized by a false use of the office’s name.

Caudill: “I believe what he is doing, or the individuals are doing, are informing people that they have … their checks have been used illegally and they need to make payment to these individuals to recoup some of the costs. That would be part of the scam.”

The scammers leave call back numbers and here is what you get if you dial.

Scam: “You have reached the warrants and citations division at the Otoe County Sheriff’s Department. None of our deputies are able to assist your call right now. If it’s an emergency please hang up and dial 911. Otherwise leave your name, your number and a brief detailed message and one of our deputies will assist you will your call as soon as possible. Thank you and have a great day.”

 

There is no warrants division in Otoe County and the sheriff says the callers are looking for victims.

Caudill: “Probably just to get money from people, would be my assumption. It’s not uncommon. It’s something we are seeing, that law enforcement agency names are being used to take part in scams.”

 

The sheriff says law enforcement does not call people asking for financial information or demanding payments.