The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim to be a sheriff’s sergeant and threaten arrest unless money is sent immediately.
In a statement on Monday, the law enforcement agency said it has received multiple reports of scammers identifying themselves as “Sgt. Sean McKrell” with the Sheriff’s Office. The callers, and in some cases voicemails with a callback number, threaten arrest, warrants or other legal action to pressure victims into sending money.
Sheriff’s officials emphasized that a real deputy will never call residents out of the blue to claim they have a warrant or to collect bail money over the phone. The law enforcement agency also said deputies will never request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or electronic payments.
Residents who receive a suspicious call are urged to hang up immediately.
Anyone who shared personal or financial information with a scammer is asked to report the incident to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (415) 479-2311.