Fraud / Telephone scam, Aug. 19

News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office. On 08/12/2015 and 08/18/2015 the Coos County Sheriff’s Office started receiving reports from citizens in Coos County about suspicious phone calls reporting to be from the Department of State Investigations. The phone numbers appearing on caller ID make it appear as if the call is originating from Coos County. Those numbers include the direct line to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, 541-396-7800, as well as the main number to the Coos County Courthouse 541-396-7500. The caller is claiming to work for the State Department of Investigations and telling people that they owe money or are trying to collect on a debt and that to settle this you must go to Walmart and transfer the funds. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office wants to let people know that these calls are not coming from them, or any county department and this is a scam. Any person receiving suspicious calls from anyone requesting they send money or inquiring about personal information should not respond. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating and has also passed this information onto the Oregon State Department of Justice.