Lincoln Police say a 29-year-old woman got a call Thursday afternoon from a man claiming to be with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office saying she missed jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest.
Public Information Manager Erika Thomas says she was told she needed to pay $5,800 to take care of the issue and not to come in person as they would detain her. The scammers also spoofed LSO’s nonemergency line and left an empty voicemail from that number.
“The victim said she spoke with three people, and one identified himself as Lt. Eric Hamilton,” Thomas says. “She was told to withdraw the money from her bank and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM in three separate accounts.”
After she completed the transactions, Thomas says the scammers requested more money. That’s when the victim drove to LPD headquarters to report the fraud. “Scammers use pressure and fear to get you to act fast.”
Thomas reminds all residents that law enforcement will never call you and demand money and payment would never be requested through methods like Bitcoin. “If someone threatens arrest unless you pay, hang up and verify the identity of law enforcement by calling the agency directly.”
If you believe you’re the victim of a scam, call law enforcement directly to report it and report online through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.