Phone Scammers Impersonating Cook County Sheriff's Office, Agency Warns

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a scam in which the caller identifies themself as a member of the sheriff’s office seeking citation payments.

“These calls, which come from a number without caller ID, are scams,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release Friday. “The Sheriff’s Office does not call to seek payments or to notify individuals about citations, warrants, or missing jury duty.”

Anyone who receives a call from a person claiming to be with law enforcement should get their full name, badge number and phone number, then call the agency they say they’re with using the official phone numbers on the agency’s website to determine if there is a reason for contact, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Do not follow the caller’s instructions nor use the number provided by the caller to contact the agency,” the news release said.

Anyone with information about the scam, or who believes they are a victim, is asked to call the sheriff’s police at 708-865-4896 or 847-635-1188.