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SOUTH SALT LAKE — A new twist to an old scam has police reminding residents not to fall victim to it.
Last week, a North Salt Lake woman received a call from a man claiming to be from the Unified Police Department saying he was going to issue a warrant for her arrest if she did not take care of an unpaid fine for missing jury duty, said Unified Police Lt. Lex Bell.
The man then told the woman to meet him at the Salt Lake County sheriff's building on the corner of 3300 South and 900 East. Although the woman was able to figure out the call was a scam and did not go to the sheriff's office, Bell said detectives have since learned of another woman who did go to the sheriff's office, only to have a man claiming to be an officer meet her in the parking lot for her "convenience" to pay a fine.
Bell said the incidents are good reminders for all residents that "a police officer will never ask you for payment on a warrant, ever."
A police officer will never ask you for payment on a warrant, ever.
–Lt. Lex Bell, UPD
In fact, if a person has an unpaid court fine, they will pay it inside whatever courthouse issued the warrant and not in a parking lot, he said.
The jury duty warrant scam has been reported in several counties in Utah over the past couple of years. Police do not know if the same person or group is responsible, or if there are copycat offenders. Bell has heard of scammers using the actual names of real officers when telling a prospective victim that they have a warrant for their arrest, but last week was the first time he heard of someone trying to scam someone in the sheriff's own parking lot.
Bell said as long as residents remember never to pay a fine over the phone or give money directly to an officer, they shouldn't fall victim.
- Know who you're dealing with.
- Know that wiring money is like sending cash.
- Read your monthly statements.
- After a disaster, give only to established charities.
- Talk to your doctor before you buy health products or treatments.
- Remember there's no sure thing in investing.
- Don't send money to someone you don't know.
- Don't agree to deposit a check and wire money back.
- Don't reply to messages asking for personal or financial information.
- Don't play a foreign lottery.
