Sheriff’s office warns of scam

The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who receives a phone call from the department asking for money to immediately call the office, (208) 267-3151. 

“We would never call to try and solicit a payment,” said BCSO Undersheriff Rich Stephens. “It’s a scam.” 

The scammers sometimes use “phantom” numbers that mimic that of the Sheriff’s office. The caller identification also says the call is coming from the Sheriff’s office. And at times, the scammers say they are actual employees of the department. 

“These guys are getting pretty smooth with their sell,” Stephens said. 

The BCSO will only call county residents to ask them to turn themselves in or to go through a legitimate bail bonds process to make a payment. The scam calls, on the other hand, will say there is an arrest warrant or a missed jury duty, and the resident must make a payment – usually in the form of prepaid card online transaction – to avoid being taken into custody. 

Stephens said the department is yet to receive a report that anyone has fallen victim to the scam. But one individual went to Walmart to buy $2,000 on a prepaid card and almost sent the info to the scammers. 

Similar scams have happened in Boundary County in the past, but they usually don’t last this long, Stephens said. The scam started early this week, and it was still going on as of last night.