Police warn of phone warrant scam

EVERETT — The scam is back.

Several people reported to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office this week that they received phone calls from someone claiming to be a deputy with a warrant for their arrest.

The caller told them they would need to pay over the phone to have the warrant “lifted.” If not, the bogus deputy promised to come to their house to arrest them, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said.

“First of all, no county employee, including those in law enforcement, will call you to request payment over the phone for anything. Anyone who does should be reported to the police immediately,” said Sheriff Ty Trenary. “Second, a sheriff’s office deputy would never call someone with a warrant to warn them that we were on our way to arrest them.”

If anyone needs to verify if they have an outstanding warrant in Snohomish County, they can review online a current list of outstanding District Court misdemeanor and Superior Court felony warrants.

Sheriff’s office reception staff said they received five similar reports about the scam Monday morning.

In most cases, the scam targets said it was the sheriff’s office reception phone number — 425-388-3393 — that showed up on their caller ID screen.

Anyone who believes they may be a victim of fraud should call 911.

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