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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Scammers promise a clear criminal record

A recent string of scam calls promises Spokane County residents that a clean criminal record is just a phone call away.

Over the past several months, citizens have received calls from scammers claiming to be from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office saying there’s a warrant out for their arrest and that whoever they’re living with may be charged for harboring a wanted person, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The caller says that if they pay a fee their record will be cleared.

When the scammers call, caller identification will display the sheriff’s office administration number. The Federal Communications Commission has released a guide to this scam method, known as “spoofing.”

The Sheriff’s Office never tells people they can pay their way out of a warrant, Deputy Craig Chamberlin said.

“We either go find them, or when we contact them and find out they have (a warrant),” Chamberlin said, “that’s when we take them to jail.”

Victims or anyone with information about the scam are asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.



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