Fake Sheriff’s Office Calls in Josephine County Try to Trick Victims Into Paying Bail Money

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — Multiple reports of telephone scams, where individuals pretend to be members of the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, have been received by law enforcement.

Scammers call their victims, identifying themselves as members of the Sheriff’s Office, often as Undersheriff Travis Snyder, and frequently discuss a family member who has been arrested, then solicit bail money.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it does not and will not make this suggestion; law enforcement does not operate in this fashion.

The scam is similar to one that recently emerged in Grants Pass, where a woman lost $3,500 to callers pretending to be police officers.

If you feel you are being scammed, hang up immediately and call the Sheriff’s Office at 541-474-5123. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that you should:

• Do NOT provide any information over the phone.
• If you think the call could be legitimate, search for the business’s phone number yourself and call to verify any information that was relayed to you.
• Remain vigilant and report any potential scams that come their way.
• NEVER provide financial or personal information to anyone until you are sure who you are speaking to.