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UINTAH COUNTY — A familiar scam is continuing to trouble residents in Uintah County.
The sheriff’s office once again warned citizens to be wary of callers claiming to be deputies. Officials sent out a scam alert Friday saying numerous individuals have reported getting calls from scammers posing as sheriff deputies who demand payment.
“The scammers are calling from a variety of numbers, many of them with local area codes,” the alert reads. “They have also left messages for call back claiming to be the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office; however, this message has no affiliation with Uintah County. Complainants have told investigators that the callers are demanding immediate payment from them under the threat of immediate arrest and are telling victims that they must stay on the line with them until the transaction is complete.”
The sheriff’s office said it will never call and demand payment, as it does not act as a collection agency. Officials recommended that anyone who receives a call from a scammer report the incident to law enforcement. Under no circumstance should any money be transferred to the caller, investigators said.
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department reported residents calling in about a similar scam Friday. Investigators said scammers are calling and pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service from the number 909-237-5435.
