MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – Residents in Manitowoc County are being warned about suspicious phone calls being made asking them for money or personal information by an alleged Sheriff’s Department employee to clear a warrant.
According to deputies, multiple residents have contacted them saying they were called by a person asking for money or personal information claiming to be from the agency. The caller would say there was a Federal Complaint filed with the Department of Justice and there was an active warrant issued.
Authorities say the most disturbing part about the calls is that residents have checked their caller ID and the phone number displayed is the general phone line for the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department, 683-4200. This means that unauthorized callers somehow were able to insert the sheriff’s office number into the caller ID to make it appear legitimate.
Manitowoc County Sheriff’s deputies say they do not ask for any type of payment for warrants over the phone. As a general rule, payments to law enforcement are made at the agencies and you will get a proper receipt.
If you have any doubts about the call being legitimate, hang up the phone and call the sheriff’s office at (920) 683-4200 and press option #1. The dispatcher will be able to confirm if the call is legitimate.
