The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) communications center in Renton had unexpected visitors Thursday, July 18. It’s the result of a scammer that told the victims they had outstanding warrants and claimed to be KCSO.

Both people told staff the caller claimed to be with the sheriff’s office. The scammer said the victims had either outstanding warrants or missed a court date. When the victims didn’t agree to send money, they were directed to go to the KCSO Communications Center.

The scammer provided the correct address, and appeared to spoof the non-emergency phone number, according to KCSO.

It is unclear as to why the victims were actually sent to a KCSO facility but luckily they lost nothing but some of their time, according to KCSO press release.

“The King County Sheriff’s Office is not in the business of collecting payment for anything so we will never threaten to arrest someone if they don’t pay,” the press release states. “If you are ever contacted and threatened with arrest if you don’t pay, hang up the phone immediately and report the call to your local law enforcement agency.”

KCSO wants to remind folks other scams are out there and many target the elderly and other vulnerable people. The KCSO encourages people to have open and repeat conversations with their vulnerable loved ones in an effort to protect them from these fraudulent scams.

“If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t,” the press release states.