DeKalb County Sheriff's Office warns of impersonator demanding money – Shaw Local

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a phone scam circulating in which the caller poses as a deputy to ask for money.

The sheriff's office issued the warning Tuesday, reminding residents that police would never call to ask for money to pay bail on pending criminal charges. Cash bail also no longer exists in Illinois as of September 2023, under the Pretrial Fairness Act, sometimes called the ASFE-T Act.

“Unknown individuals are making calls claiming to be a member of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. Incidentally, the name used is that of a retired employee,” the alert states. “They then inform the person to call or text 815-371-8070 and threaten to come to their home.”

A person who reported the alleged scam said the caller said he knew where he lived, officials said. Another said the caller pretended to transfer them to another officer, but that person worked for the DeKalb City Police Department, according to the PSA.

“If you receive one of these calls, do NOT call, answer the number, or interact with the caller. Just hang up! officials wrote.

Law enforcement would never call to ask someone to pay bail with an iTunes gift card or other types of cards, according to the sheriff's office. Since the SAFE-T Act took effect, cash bail has been prohibited in Illinois, meaning warrants no longer come with a monetary amount for release.

Residents are also reminded to never disclose personal information over the telephone. Those who are concerned they may have been scammed are encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at 815-895-2155 or report it to local law enforcement.